Environmental conservation experts have proposed converting Ghana’s Cape Three Points Forest Reserve into a national park to strengthen protection of the forest and support the management of the country’s first Marine Protected Area.
The proposal, made by Stephen Kankam, Deputy Director of Hɛn Mpoano, is aimed at managing the forest and marine ecosystems as one ecological unit, as illegal mining activities spread within parts of the reserve and along adjoining rivers and wetlands.
Kankam said protecting the coastal environment would require action beyond the sea, citing the role of rivers flowing from the forest into coastal wetlands, mangroves and marine habitats that support fish breeding.
“It is impossible to protect the sea while allowing the forest that supports it to be destroyed,” he said.
The proposed national park status would complement the Marine Protected Area, which is intended to help restore depleted fish stocks and protect marine ecosystems. According to Kankam, the forest’s ecological links with the coast mean that damage upstream can affect marine life downstream.
He also called for permanent protection camps within the forest reserve to enable security agencies to maintain a round-the-clock presence and respond more quickly to illegal mining.
The proposal comes as authorities prepare a management plan for the Marine Protected Area through consultations with fishing communities, traditional authorities, government agencies and other stakeholders. The plan is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, with implementation scheduled to begin in January 2027.
Kankam said stronger conservation efforts would also need to address the concerns of coastal communities, including access to alternative livelihoods and basic infrastructure. A pilot programme is providing vocational training in trades such as carpentry, dressmaking and catering to between 150 and 200 young people.
He has also called for improvements to roads serving Cape Three Points and surrounding communities, saying better access could support tourism, trade and access to healthcare.
