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Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has commenced a nationwide stakeholder consultation on draft regulations to operationalise Community Resource Management Areas (CREMAs), aimed at strengthening wildlife conservation and community-based natural resource governance.
The proposed Legislative Instrument (L.I.) is anchored in the Wildlife Resources Management Act, 2023(Act 1115), which provides the statutory framework for the protection, conservation and sustainable use of wildlife resources in the country.
The engagement, being undertaken in collaboration with the Forestry Commission, seeks to build consensus on a comprehensive legal regime to guide the establishment, governance and management of CREMAs across Ghana.
Speaking on behalf of the Sector Minister, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Yusif Sulemana, said the draft regulations are intended to provide legal clarity, structured governance systems and stronger accountability mechanisms for CREMAs.
He explained that the proposed instrument outlines clear procedures for the creation and recognition of CREMAs, including requirements such as ecological significance of the area, defined land tenure arrangements, and the consent of District Assemblies and traditional authorities.
According to him, the regulations will ensure transparency in the management of natural resources while empowering communities to actively participate in conservation efforts.
The Deputy Minister expressed concern over persistent threats to biodiversity, noting that beyond illegal mining, unregulated hunting continues to undermine conservation gains and deplete wildlife populations.
“Unregulated hunting is depleting wildlife populations and disturbing ecological balance. Protecting our wildlife is not optional; it is a national responsibility,” he stressed.
The Executive Director of the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission, Dr. Joseph Boakye, underscored the challenges facing community-based conservation, including habitat loss, weak enforcement regimes and competing land uses.
He called on stakeholders to contribute their expertise and collective vision to refine the draft framework to ensure it delivers both conservation outcomes and sustainable livelihood benefits for local communities.
Participants at the engagement sessions include representatives of local government authorities, traditional authorities, community leaders, as well as non-governmental and civil society organisations involved in natural resource management and other relevant state institutions.
The consultation forms part of government’s broader efforts to strengthen environmental governance and safeguard Ghana’s wildlife resources for future generations.
Yaw Boagyan
