Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, responsible for Lands and Forestry, Akwasi Konadu, has called on hunters and bush meat traders to adhere strictly to the ban on the closed season for wildlife.
He emphasized that this practice will enhance conservation efforts and ensure sustainable wildlife utilization by allowing animals to breed and thrive.
Speaking at the launch of the 2024 Closed Season Observation, themed “Wildlife: A Heritage We Must Conserve,” on Thursday, August 1, 2024, in Mankessim, Central Region, Hon. Konadu highlighted the importance of the closed season, which runs from August 1 to December 1 annually.
This period prohibits the hunting, capturing, and killing of wildlife. He also mentioned the recently enacted Wildlife Resources Management Act, 2023 (Act 1115), signed by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, which aims to regulate the wildlife sector to promote socio-economic development.
One key objective of the closed season, according to Hon. Konadu, is to protect wildlife species and their habitats, thereby supporting ecotourism development.
“Through the promotion of ecotourism, significant revenues can be mobilized to boost economic development, as seen in many African countries such as Kenya, Botswana, Zambia, Namibia, South Africa, and Tanzania,” he noted.
The Deputy Minister also outlined several initiatives by the Ministry, alongside other state and non-state actors, to promote sound environmental management.
These include enhancing law enforcement through specialized para-military training for Rapid Response Teams, providing logistical support for field monitoring, expanding Community Resource Management Areas (CREMAs) to foster community engagement, and promoting reforestation and afforestation models like the flagship Green Ghana Project.
Hon. Konadu urged all stakeholders to comply with the closed season ban and support the Forestry Commission’s vision of bequeathing future generations a richer and more robust forest and wildlife heritage.
Osagyefo Amanfo Edu VI, Omanhene of the Mankessim Traditional Area, who chaired the event, stressed the long-term generational loss that could result from ignoring the closed season rule.
He called for a holistic approach to reap the benefits of biodiversity and urged hunters to help preserve forests and their habitats.
He also implored Forestry Officials to strictly enforce the ban, raise awareness about its importance, and engage communities in effective wildlife management.
Osagyefo also called on the government, through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, to enforce mining laws that restrict activities in forest reserves, ensuring the sustainability of the closed season ban.
The Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission, Mr. John Allotey, reiterated the importance of protecting wildlife and the impact of climate change on the environment and human lives.
He emphasized that the closed season is crucial for the sustainable use of wildlife resources during breeding seasons and that regulatory mechanisms, such as requiring licenses for hunting grass cutters, will be strictly enforced.
Hon. Ike Lord Ennu, the Municipal Chief Executive of Mankessim, appealed to all Ghanaians, particularly those in Mankessim, to respect the closed season and support government efforts to combat illegal activities in the wildlife and forest sectors.
“We will enhance public campaigns to highlight the importance of our forests and wildlife, emphasizing their role in maintaining and improving sustainable conservation and nurturing a vibrant ecosystem,” he added.
tigpost.co