By Godwill Arthur-Mensah
Accra, Aug.02, GNA – Mr Akwasi Konadu, a Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources in
charge of Lands and Forestry, has implored hunters and bush meat traders to strictly adhere to
the ban on wildlife hunting during the closed season.
He was of the belief that adhering to the ban on wildlife would help the conservation and
sustainable utilisation of wildlife and allow them to breed and procreate.
The Deputy Minister gave the advice during the launch of the 2024 Closed Season Observation
in Mankessim in the Central Region on Thursday.
It was on the theme: “Wildlife: A Heritage We Must Conserve”.
The closed season on wildlife officially begins from 1st August to 1st December annually.
It prohibits hunting, capturing, and destroying of wildlife animals.
Moreso, the long-awaited Wildlife Resources Management Act, 2023 (Act 1115) which was
assented by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo regulates the wildlife sector for
enhanced socio-economic development.
Mr Konadu explained that the purpose of the closed season on wildlife was to protect wildlife
species and secure their habitats for ecotourism development.
“Through the promotion of ecotourism, significant revenues can be mobilised to boost economic
development, as it is the case in many African countries, like Kenya, Botswana, Zambia, Namibia, South Africa and Tanzania,” he stated.
The Deputy Minister stated that the Ministry, together with other state and non-state actors, is
pursuing several interventions to promote sound environmental management.
Those measures include strengthening law enforcement through specialised para-military
training of the Rapid Response Teams, provision of logistic support to enhance field monitoring
operations, expansion of Community Resource Management Areas (CREMAs) to other
communities to foster closer community engagement, and promotion of various models of
reforestation and afforestation, including the flagship Green Ghana Project.
Mr Konadu urged all players in the sector to abide by the closed season ban and support the
Forestry Commission to achieve its vision of leaving future generations with richer and better
forest and wildlife endowment than inherited.
Osagyefo Amanfo Edu VI, the Omanhene of Mankessim Traditional Area, who chaired the
event, said disobeying the closed season directives would cause generational loss.
He underscored the need for a holistic approach towards preserving wildlife to enjoy the
benefits of biodiversity.
The traditional leader admonished Forestry Commission officials to strictly monitor and enforce
the ban and called for community involvement to ensure effective wildlife management.
The Chief Executive Officer, Forestry Commission, Mr. John Allotey reiterated the importance of
protecting wildlife resources, which has positive effects on climate change on both the
environment and human lives.
Mr. Allotey also explained that the enforcement and regulatory mechanism required during the
four-month period.
He said there should be no hunting, capturing, or destroying of any wild animals except grass
cutter, which a licence is required to do so.
Mr Ike Lord Ennu, the Municipal Chief Executive of Mankessim, called on all Ghanaians,
particularly the people of Mankessim, to respect the closed season and support government
initiatives to combat illegality in the wildlife and forest sectors.
GNA