Ghana’s wildlife Act aligns with national policies - Deputy Lands Minister

The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Akwasi Konadu, has disclosed that the newly enacted Wildlife Resources Management Act, 2023 (Act 1115) has aligned Ghana's wildlife laws with existing policies in the Lands and Forestry sector.

He disclosed this during the opening of a 4-day workshop focused on disseminating information about the Wildlife Resources Management Act, 2023 (Act 1115) and the proposed Legislative Instrument (LI) for establishing and operating Community Resource Management Areas (CREMAs).

According to him, the legislation ensures Ghana's compliance with international wildlife conventions, of which the country is a signatory.

Acknowledging that legislation alone cannot solve the challenges the wildlife sector faces, Mr Konadu noted that, "Our goal is not to have this document gathering dust on shelves in Accra. Instead, it should be widely distributed, thoroughly understood, and its roles and responsibilities clearly explained for smooth implementation," he said.

He said the CREMA model, which receives full support under the Act, has demonstrated its effectiveness in engaging local communities in natural resource management.

To ensure nationwide implementation of the CREMA model, the Deputy Minister explained that the LI needed to be developed to address additional related issues outlined in the Act.

Mr Albert K. Agyapong from the Taylor Crabbe Law Firm presented the proposed Legislative Instrument (LI for CREMA establishment), detailing new provisions including penalties, regulations related to international conventions, and guidelines for managing wildlife outside protected areas.