Ghana is intensifying efforts to combat the illegal wildlife trade, strengthening international partnerships and introducing new economic measures to protect endangered species while safeguarding the country’s eco-economy.
In an interview, Mr. Richard Gyimah, Director of Stakeholders and Ecotourism at the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission, said wildlife trafficking remains one of the most serious threats to Ghana’s biodiversity and rural livelihoods.
The illegal trade, he explained, not only devastates ecosystems but also undermines legitimate ecotourism and community-based conservation enterprises that contribute millions of cedis annually to local economies.
“Wildlife trafficking is not just an environmental issue, it’s an economic crime,” Mr. Gyimah stated. “It robs the nation of tourism revenue, disrupts rural economies, and destroys the natural capital that sustains community livelihoods.”
According to the Wildlife Division, Ghana loses an estimated USD 10–12 million annually in potential revenue from illegal poaching and trafficking of protected species such as pangolins, parrots, and bushmeat.
The trade also weakens Ghana’s reputation as a responsible ecotourism destination, discouraging high-value tourism investment.
Mr. Gyimah explained that wildlife crime networks operate across borders, linking local poachers to international buyers through sophisticated supply chains.
“The economics behind wildlife trafficking are complex. Demand from Asia, Europe, and parts of the Middle East continues to drive illegal hunting and exportation,” he noted. “Ghana’s ports and airports have unfortunately become transit points for wildlife products originating from across West Africa.”
He added that the illegal trade diverts income away from legitimate conservation and tourism activities that could employ local youth and generate tax revenue for the state.
To address the growing threat, Ghana has intensified collaboration with INTERPOL, the World Customs Organization (WCO), and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
“Our partnerships with international agencies have led to better intelligence sharing, joint operations, and improved training for customs and wildlife officers,” Mr. Gyimah said.
The Wildlife Division has also been working with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to strengthen legal frameworks and enhance monitoring capacity at exit points such as Kotoka International Airport and major border crossings.
“We’re seeing progress,” he said. “Several arrests and prosecutions have been made, and we’ve improved our ability to trace trafficking routes and dismantle networks.”
Mr. Gyimah stressed that enforcement alone cannot end wildlife trafficking, economic incentives for conservation must complement the fight.
“People living near wildlife habitats must see more value in protecting animals than in selling them,” he explained. “When communities benefit from tourism or conservation projects, the incentive to poach declines.”
He cited Ghana’s Community Resource Management Areas (CREMAs) as a successful model where local communities share in the proceeds of ecotourism and sustainable resource use.
“By integrating conservation with community business models such as eco-lodges, cultural tours, or legal wildlife breeding, we reduce poverty while protecting biodiversity,” he said.
Beyond donor funding, Mr. Gyimah suggested that Ghana should explore green taxes and wildlife conservation levies to fund anti-trafficking operations and invest in ecological monitoring systems.
He noted that emerging carbon and biodiversity credit markets could provide long-term funding for conservation enforcement, aligning economic incentives with environmental protection.
“The illegal wildlife trade thrives where enforcement is weak and funding is scarce. Innovative financing can change that equation,” he said.
Mr. Gyimah believes Ghana’s success will depend on maintaining global partnerships, tightening domestic enforcement, and linking conservation efforts with economic empowerment.
“The fight against wildlife crime is part of a bigger economic agenda, it’s about protecting our tourism assets, sustaining jobs, and positioning Ghana as a leader in green growth,” he concluded.
With support from international partners and growing public awareness, Ghana aims to turn the tide against wildlife trafficking, ensuring that its forests and species become sources of prosperity, not targets for exploitation.
