Wildlife Resources Management Bill before cabinet

Mr Benito Owusu Bio (right), being assisted by Mr Andrew Callender (left) to cut the tape to launch the report

THE Wildlife Resources Management Bill that seeks to consolidate all wildlife regulations in the country is before cabinet for consideration, a Deputy Minister for lands and Natural Resources, Mr Benito Owusu Bio has said.

At the launch of a review report on Ghana’s legal framework on protected areas, agriculture and environmental assessments, in Accra on Thursday, he said the bill would soon be submitted to parliament.

According to the Atwima Nwabiagya North Member of Parliament, the bill that had been with parliament for five years, when passed into law, would make management of wildlife in the country more effective and sustainable.

The review report, covering 152 legislations and policies on the aforementioned areas was spearheaded by the Ghana Wildlife Society (GWS), a non-governmental organisation.

The one-year exercise aimed at creating a one-stop shop for legal framework for the areas, identify gaps and offer recommendations for amendment and enforcement.

Conducted in partnership with Taylor Crabbe Initiative the review was funded by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, both global entities.

Mr Bio noted that despite extensive legislation, the country’s quest to sustain forest management had been limited due to threats including illegal mining and logging, rampant wildfires and housing.

He said exercises by GWS would complement the government’s initiatives to curb the threats as it was through integrated interventions that the country could reverse this decline in our natural resources stock.

He commended GWS for the initiative, saying government, would continue to engage all stakeholders in the formulation and implementation of government policies and programmes.

Executive Director of GWS, Mr Eric Lartey said the review was carried out as part of the society’s mandate to contribute to the policy making and implementation process.

He observed that despite the existence of many legislations, weak governance structures, inadequate implementation and gaps within current legislation was not helping sustainability of the environment.

He stressed the need for the lapses identified in the legislation and policies to be reviewed and asked the government to expunge the Atewa Range Forest Reserve from its bauxite mining plans.

The Head of International Policy Programmes of RSPB, Andrew Callender said the review was a major step in addressing policy challenges that affect the country and aid socio-economic development.

BY JONATHAN DONKOR AND FREDERICK GADESE-MENSAH

 

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