The wildlife trade in Ghana: a threat to biodiversity conservation

Abstract

The rich biodiversity of Ghana is currently under threat from anthropogenic influences, including local and international trade in wildlife. This study investigated the effect of this trade on biodiversity conservation initiatives in Ghana. The methodology involved the use of interviews and structured questionnaires administered in four towns in the Eastern and Greater-Accra regions of Ghana. The results indicated that the level of awareness of wildlife law was high among the exclusively make dealers in the trade. Trapping was the most widely used hunting method, but this involved a lot of brutality to the captured animals before they were finally killed. Expert permit fees charge by the Wildlife Division were found to be very low and based on uncertain international market prices, posing potential threats to the national economy and wildlife heritage. It is recommended that a policy framework should be developed to regulate the production and use of killer traps in hunting of wildlife. Export permit fees and penalties for non-adherence to wildlife law also need to be increased to high levels to serve as a deterrent to the over-harvesting and exportation of wildlife