By Amina Shamudeen
Kumawu (Ash), March 05, GNA – Dr Hugh Brown, the Acting Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission (FC), has called on the private sector to actively involve themselves in the conservation and management of wildlife resources in the country.
He said private financial investments would play a crucial role in the conservation, preservation and management of wildlife resources, which were abundant in all parts of the country.
Dr Brown who made the call at a durbar to mark this year’s World Wildlife Day celebrations at Kumawu in the Ashanti region, said Ghana was blessed with extraordinary array of wildlife, such as the iconic African elephant, to other rare and endangered species like Bongo Leopard, Lions, Chimpanzees among others found in various national parks, forest reserves and ecosystems, that benefitted the local communities.
He called on the people to help in the protection of the environment, especially the forests, which were the abode of these wild animals.
Dr Joseph Boakye, the Executive Director of the Wildlife Division of FC, said the 2025 celebrations coincided with the 50th anniversary of the entry into force of the Conservation International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
He said the aim of the conservation framework was to make trading in wildlife species legal, sustainable and traceable.
Dr Boakye said the theme for this year’s celebrations, which was “Wildlife conservation financing: investing; in conservation efforts that benefit both people and the planet,” was to highlight the need for adequate private sector financing in the conservation efforts.
It was also to effectively and sustainably explore innovative approaches towards financing wildlife conservation, by building a resilient future for both people and plants.
About 20 per cent of the land area of Ghana is permanently dedicated to biodiversity conservation and this is made up of forests reserves (11.5%), wildlife protected areas (6%) and sacred groves (2.5%).
He however, said financing for conservation efforts remained insufficient to protect these critical ecosystems and species.
Dr Boakye stated that the Wildlife Division was mandated to conserve, sustainably manage and develop Ghana’s wildlife resources for the benefit of all segments of the society.
The Division had 21 wildlife protected areas under it, which comprised of seven national parks, six resource reserves, two wildlife sanctuaries, one Strict Nature Reserve, five Coastal wetlands as well as two zoological gardens.
These protected areas (PAs) had been set aside by law and permanently dedicated to wildlife conservation, he said.
Barima Sarfo Tweneboa Kodua, the Paramount Chief of the Kumawu Traditional area, in an address read for him, said the sub-theme ‘Wildlife Conservation: Investing in People and Planet’ was timely and relevant.
He however admitted that financial sustainability was a significant challenge in conservation efforts and urged stakeholders to use the theme as a guide to explore innovative avenues for supporting conservation initiatives.
Barima Tweneboa Kodua stressed the importance of preserving the natural world for future generations and appealed to all Ghanaians to contribute to the protection of the environment and its resources.
GNA