The Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission has announced the commencement of the 2025 Wildlife Closed Season, which runs from 1st August to 1st December 2025.

The season, according to the division, aims to mobilise all stakeholders to halt illegal activities that endanger the country’s precious wildlife and to champion sustainable preservation for future generations.

In accordance with the Wildlife Resources Management Act, 2023 (Act 1115), and the Wildlife Conservation Regulation, 1971 (L.I. 685), a nationwide ban is now in place on hunting, capturing, and killing of wild animals for the next four months.

In a press statement released on July 31, the Forestry Commission explained that the period was critical for wildlife reproduction, providing a safe window for breeding and nurturing of young animals.

The division, according to the statement, will launch the Closed Season at the Gbele Resource Reserve in the Upper West Region on Friday, 1st August, 2025.

The Wildlife Division will also commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Reserve’s establishment.

Gbele is the only gazetted Wildlife Protected Area in the region, covering 565km² and home to a wide range of species, including roan antelopes, bushbucks, crocodiles, and an array of birdlife.

The Wildlife Division, part of Ghana’s Forestry Commission, manages 21 wildlife protected areas across the country, which include 7 National Parks, 6 Resource Reserves, 2 Wildlife Sanctuaries, 1 Strict Nature Reserve, and 5 Coastal Wetlands.

The division emphasised that wildlife conservation is not only crucial for biodiversity but also vital for combating climate change, sustaining ecosystems, and boosting ecotourism and national development.

No Hunting, No Trading
The public has been reminded that the ban extends to all forms of wildlife trade, including the sale and export of bushmeat such as the popular grasscutter (akrantie).

Traders, restaurant operators, and consumers are warned that any wildlife or wildlife products found without valid licences during the period will be confiscated.

Offenders risk facing fines between 250 and 500 penalty units, or imprisonment ranging from 12 to 24 months.

Those in possession of wildlife products before the ban must provide evidence and obtain the necessary documentation from their nearest Wildlife Division office.

Time for National Reflection and Action
The Closed Season also serves as a platform to raise awareness about the threats facing Ghana’s wildlife, from indiscriminate hunting and poaching to bushfires, illegal mining, and unregulated farming.

The division cautioned that continued environmental degradation not only imperils animal species but also threatens cultural heritage, traditional practices, and the well-being of future generations.

“Without wildlife conservation, human existence stands adversely affected,” a statement from the division read, calling on every citizen to become a steward of the nation’s natural heritage.

Monitoring and Compliance
To ensure adherence, the Wildlife Division will carry out nationwide monitoring during the Closed Season. Stakeholders in the wildlife value chain – from hunters and traders to chop bar operators – are expected to comply fully with the regulations.

The division urged all Ghanaians to unite in the fight against wildlife crime, uphold wildlife laws, and work together to secure the country’s ecological and economic future.