Forestry Commission announces 2025 wildlife closed season from Aug 1 to Dec 1

The Wildlife Division of Ghana’s Forestry Commission has officially launched the 2025 Wildlife Closed Season, placing a nationwide ban on all hunting, capturing, and trading of wild animals from August 1 to December 1, 2025.

The ban, announced in a press release on July 31, aligns with the Wildlife Resources Management Act, 2023 (Act 1115), and Wildlife Conservation Regulations, 1971 (L.I. 685). It is aimed at giving wildlife a safe window to breed and raise their young, a crucial step toward restoring balance to Ghana’s threatened ecosystems.

To mark the start of the season, the division will hold a formal launch at the Gbele Resource Reserve in the Upper West Region, which also celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Gbele, spanning 565 square kilometers, is home to species such as roan antelopes, bushbucks, crocodiles, and diverse birdlife.

What the Ban Means

During these four months:

No hunting, capturing, or killing of wild animals is allowed.

Trading or exporting bushmeat, including popular species like grasscutter (akrantie), is prohibited without valid licenses.

Offenders risk fines of up to 500 penalty units or jail terms of 12 to 24 months.

Businesses in possession of wildlife products before the ban must register them with the Wildlife Division.

The Division also warned that restaurants, traders, and exporters found violating the ban will have their goods seized and face prosecution.

The closed season doubles as a national call to action, urging Ghanaians to rethink their relationship with the environment. From poaching and bushfires to illegal mining and unregulated farming, human activities continue to destroy habitats and reduce biodiversity.

“Without wildlife conservation, human existence stands adversely affected,” the Division cautioned, calling on citizens to act as guardians of Ghana’s natural heritage.

Enforcement teams will monitor compliance across the country, targeting everyone from hunters and bushmeat sellers to chop bar operators. The Wildlife Division manages 21 protected areas nationwide, including 7 national parks and 6 resource reserves, and is committed to preserving these assets for future generations.

The Division concluded by urging every Ghanaian to join the fight against wildlife crime and help protect the nation’s ecological and economic future.