Mercy Owusu Ansah

Director Tropenbos Ghana

Mercy Owusu Ansah is the Director of Tropenbos Ghana and a natural facilitator who has played a crucial role in positioning the organization as a leader in multi-stakeholder dialogues on biodiversity conservation. Her work spans local, national, and policy levels, making Tropenbos Ghana a key player in community-led conservation efforts.

As part of the Tropenbos International network, Mercy has contributed valuable insights to international discussions on key topics, including illegal chainsaw milling, the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA), REDD+, and more recently, the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and its impact on Ghana’s cocoa sector.

With a background in forestry, Mercy brings a wealth of experience in engaging communities to develop and implement sustainable livelihood schemes. She has successfully facilitated biodiversity conservation projects and authored integrated forest management plans. Her leadership has strengthened the capacity of communities, government bodies, and civil society organizations through training in project development, management, and implementation.

Under Mercy’s guidance, Tropenbos Ghana has made significant strides, including revising Ghana’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), supporting the development of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) and providing support for the establishment of High Impact and Key Biodiversity Areas. She has also spearheaded the establishment of Hotspot-intervention Areas (HIAs) governance structures, now receiving emission reduction payments in partnership with the Forestry Commission and COCOBOD.

Mercy’s leadership extends to the National REDD+ Secretariat, where she has co-developed safeguards, training manuals, and implementation strategies for REDD+. Additionally, she chairs the Cocoa & Forests Initiative (CFI) Monitoring Taskforce, driving social inclusion and gender-focused community participation in forest conservation.

Contact: mercyowusuansah@yahoo.com