The Wildlife Division (WD) of the Forestry Commission has launched the 2024 Closed Season at Mankessim in the Central Region, with a call to all and sundry to comply with the ban in order to safeguard our wildlife and natural resources.
Hon. Akwasi Konadu, the Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources in charge of Lands and Forestry, and MP for Manhyia North, who officially announced the launch, urged hunters to adhere to the ban to allow the wildlife to breed and procreate, as well as obtain valid licenses to enable them to hunt the grass-cutter, which is the only animal allowed to be hunted during the period.
The Closed Season is observed from 1st August to 1st December each year, with a ban on hunting, capturing, or destroying of wild animals as provided by the Wildlife Conservation Regulations 1971 (LI 685) Section 3. This year, it is observed on the theme; Wildlife: A Heritage We Must Conserve.
The Deputy Minister again called on school children, local communities, and traditional authorities “to recognize the importance of wildlife conservation for environmental and socio-economic benefits and report any illegal activities to authorities.”
To tourists and visitors, Hon. Konadu urged them to respect the ban to support ecotourism initiatives, and forestry officials to strictly monitor and enforce the ban, raise awareness on the importance of the Season to achieve the ultimate vision of leaving future generations with richer and better forest and wildlife endowment that we inherited.
The Deputy Minister noted that one benefit of the Closed Season is to protect wildlife species and secure their habitat for ecotourism development which brings significant revenue to boost the economy. “This is the more reason why we must all come together to make sure we protect these wildlife species by adopting practices that will promote their conservation and sustainable utilization”, he said.
The Paramount Chief of the Mankessim Traditional Area, His Royal Eminence, Osagyefo Amanfo Edu VI, who was the Chairman for the event in his remarks, mentioned that due to indiscriminate hunting and poaching activities many of our wildlife are not easily seen anymore and are becoming extinct.
He, therefore, urged all actors to observe the Closed Season so that the animals procreate; pregnant animals deliver their babies and nurture them to increase populations of these valuable wildlife species during that period.
“As we are protecting the animals, we must also protect their habitats, the forests they live in”, the Mankessim Chief emphasized. Explaining that the random felling of trees and “galamsey” are destroying the nation’s forests, His Royal Eminence Osagyefo Amanfo Edu VI thus urged the government, the Sector Ministry, and the Forestry Commission to give attention to forest preservation as it is being done to wildlife as both go hand in hand.
The Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission, Mr John Allotey, pointed out in his speech that many exercises undertaken in Senya Breku– Winneba – Mankessim and Assin Fosu, and its adjoining towns and communities, showed that many people in the wildlife trade, including hunters, bush meat sellers, chop bar operators and others were doing business without licenses and permits.
He however maintained that “as much as the Forestry Commission is not against businesses or livelihood in wildlife trade, it will enforce the legal provision to regulate activities in the sector”.
Mr. Allotey noted that the new Wildlife Resources Management Act, 2023 (Act 1115) provides that to use wildlife resources in Ghana, a license or permit is required, and any person who contravenes this is guilty of an offense and liable on a summary conviction to a fine. He urged all and sundry interested in establishing any wildlife holding or business to contact the Wildlife Division for the necessary assistance.
The Chief Executive further disclosed that poaching activities in the Protected Areas are becoming a threat to the effective management of these areas. As a result, 1,104 of the Commission’s frontline staff, including the Rapid Response Unit, have undergone military training to equip them with the necessary skills to fight forest illegalities. “Many more will be trained to give them the requisite skills to protect the nation’s forest and wildlife resources”, he added.
Giving the purpose of gathering, the Executive Director of the Wildlife Division, Dr Joseph Boakye, Esq., explained that the Closed Season is to help populate the wild animals the nation has inherited from our forefathers, and so we must not disappoint them by destroying the animals.
He reiterated that the Division is not against the livelihood or business of anyone but in the long term, it will help them as well as enhance Ghana’s socio-economic development.
The program had in attendance the Paramount Chief of the Effutu Traditional Area, Neenyi Ghartey VII; Municipal Chief Executive of Mfantseman, Mr. Ike Lord Ennu; FC Deputy Chief Executive, Hon. Musah Superior; Directors and Staff of the Forestry Commission; Representatives of Government Departments and Agencies; officials of the Security Services, pupils of basic schools like the Mankessim Methodist A & B; Mankessim Catholic A & B; Mankessim M/A A & B; Morning Star School; Calvary Praise School; University Practice JHS A & B; hunters, chop bar operators and members of the Grasscutter Association, among others.
Presenting a solidarity message, Secretary of the Grasscutter Association, Mr. Patrick Essuman, thanked the WD for all its efforts over the years and for inviting them and urged that licenses issued to them must cover a period of one year, instead of the seven months, to curtail the difficulties they encounter with Wildlife Division‘s officials as they do their businesses.
Secondly, he stressed that the paper licenses must be upgraded to plastic cards, so it can last and not be easily damaged by the rain.