• Draft Integrated Coastal Zone Plan, 1998
• National Oil Spill Contingency Plan with specific reference to the marine
environment 2002 •
Environmental Sensitivity Map of the coastal areas of Ghana, 1999 and 2004 In addition to the national oil spill contingency plan 2003 a regional oil spill
contingency plan is being prepared. Response to marine and coastal pollution include the ratification and national
implementation of international agreements such as the Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships MARPOL which emanated from the Convention for
Cooperation in the Protection and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the West and Central African Region Abidjan Convention. It is
designed to ensure that resource development in West and Central Africa’s coastal zone is in harmony with the maintenance of environmental quality.
6.4 ASSESSMENT OF THE GOVERNANCE EFFECTIVENESS FOR BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION IN GHANA
Most of the legal framework for conservation is considered inadequate. Enforcement has been constrained by limited funding, lack of adequate human capacity, and other
logistics. Development considerations have usually taken precedence over conservation issues and this has often been attributed to the ineffectiveness of the EIA
process and lack of political will. There is also little coordination among the legislations governing the coastal and marine ecosystems for effective conservation.
Wildlife Resources The Wildlife Division’s management of wildlife resources outside Protected Areas
had been mainly geared towards regulating hunting. The Division’s effectiveness has been limited because of inadequate funding and lack of human capacity.
Wetlands The most significant negative impacts on wetlands are from infrastructural
development and pollution. While communities try to protect wetland resources because of their benefits, pollution and development of medium and large-scale
enterprises often with political backing continue to erode coastal resources.
Fisheries Fisheries regulations are difficult to enforce because of the limited number of fisheries
personnel and logistics. The fisheries sector is currently moving towards a co- management approach that allows communities to participate in the enforcement of
regulations. Mining
Regulating the mining industry poses significant problems because it involves several small-scale and artisanal operators that are constantly migrating, and operating in
areas that are difficult to access. In recent years, large-scale mining concerns have moved towards greater compliance with environmental regulations including social
responsibility packages. However, because many of the mineral resources are in
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forested areas, a significant negative impact of large-scale mining is unavoidable. There is currently an apparent ‘conflict of interest’ in decision-making by the sector
Ministry responsible for biodiversity conservation. This is because key government departments and agencies responsible for managing lands, forests and wildlife, and
mining activities are all under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.
6.5 EFFECTIVENESS OF GHANA’S PROTECTED AREAS FOR BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION
