A stakeholder consultation to seek input into the draft Legislative Instrument (LI) for the implementation of the Wildlife Resources Management Act 2023 (Act 1115) was yesterday held in Accra.

The programme, organised by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, formed part of a national exercise to solicit public views on the draft LI, aimed at operationalising the Act.

The engagement, the first of four planned nationwide consultations, drew participants from the private sector and civil society organisations from the Volta, Eastern and Greater Accra regions and attended by officials of the Forestry Commission and the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission.

Opening the programme, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, in a speech read on his behalf by his Deputy, Mr Yusif Sulemana, described the consultation as a critical step in strengthening Ghana’s wildlife governance framework.

He said the passage of the Wildlife Resources Management Act, 2023 (Act 1115) marked a significant milestone in the country’s environmental governance architecture.

Mr Buah said it signaled government’s commitment to improving wildlife management, strengthening enforcement and promoting community participation.

He noted that the passage of the Act was only the beginning, stressing that its effective implementation depended on clear and comprehensive regulations.

“For the law to be effectively implemented, we require clear and practical regulations. That is why we are gathered here today to deliberate on the draft Legislative Instrument,” he stated.

Mr Buah observed that many past policies and legislations encountered implementation challenges due to inadequate stakeholder consultation during the drafting stage.

He explained that the regional approach was deliberately adopted to ensure that communities, traditional authorities, district assemblies, private sector actors and civil society groups directly affected by wildlife management policies had their voices heard and incorporated into the final document.

The Minister underscored the ecological, economic and cultural importance of wildlife resources, noting that they supported tourism, provided livelihoods, preserved biodiversity and contributed to climate resilience.

He expressed concern over increasing threats such as habitat loss, illegal hunting, encroachment, pollution and climate change.

Mr Buah said the draft LI sought to provide clarity on governance and management of protected areas; procedures for granting permits, licences and concessions; community resource management areas; benefit-sharing mechanisms; regulation of wildlife trade; enforcement measures and sanctions; as well as international co-ordination.

He reiterated government’s commitment to sustainable natural resource management, including the fight against illegal mining and illegal logging.

The Executive Director of the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission, Dr Joe Boakye, described the development of the LI as an important milestone in the governance of the country’s wildlife resources.

He stressed the need to protect the nation’s natural heritage for present and future generations, noting that the LI would facilitate the effective implementation of the wildlife law.

The Chief Director of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Innocent Marcus Haligah, urged participants to actively contribute to discussions to help refine the document.

He assured stakeholders that their views would be carefully considered and reflected in the final draft, adding that the goal was to produce a well-crafted and practical instrument to ease enforcement and enhance compliance.