Hunting Ban: Grasscutter Excluded but…
The Closed Hunting Season in Ghana has set sail today, August 1, 2024, with all activities revolving around hunting, capturing, or destroying any wild animal deemed illegal for the next four months, according to the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission.
However, in the course of this season, the hunting for grasscutters locally known as Akrantie is excluded but under a permit condition.
This means that anyone who intends to hunt for grasscutters will have to apply and secure a licence from the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission.
“During the period, there is a ban on hunting, capturing and destroying of wild animals as provided by Wildlife Conservation Regulation 1971 (L.I. 685), Section 3. The only exception is the grasscutter as provided by Wildlife Conservation (Amendment) Regulation, 1983 (L.I.1284). During the Closed Season, it is illegal for anyone to hunt, capture, or destroy any wild animal except the grasscutter (Akrantie), which can be done only under a licence issued by the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission.”
Ban
The annual ban will be effective till December 1, 2024, under the Wildlife Resources Management Act, 2023 (Act 1115), Clause 21 (1) and (2).
The idea is aimed at protecting and conserving animal species populations, allowing recruitment, enhancing biodiversity as well as helping to mitigate climate change challenges, such as species population decline and extinction, among others.
The Division intends to conduct a periodic monitoring exercise to ensure adherence and compliance by hunters, traders, restaurants and “chop bars” operators and enterprises across the country.
“Actors in the sector must therefore have the requisite licences backing their activities or risk being arrested and taken through due process of law. The Division entreats all actors in wildlife trade to regularise their operations with the necessary licence for both the Closed and Open Seasons, trade only in grasscutter during the Closed Season as well as avoid trading in wholly protected or endangered species during the Open Season,” it added.
