On May 14, 2025, a hybrid training workshop on the Wildlife Resources Management Act, 2023 (Act 1115) was held at the True Vine Hotel in Kumasi, aimed to enhance the legal capacity of women involved in Ghana’s forestry sector. The training brought together 45 participants both in person and virtually from CSO’s, government agencies, industry, academia/research and media.
Ms. Sheila Kwakyewaa Somevi, Esq. of Taylor Crabbe took participants through the Wildlife Resources Management Act. She stated that ownership of wildlife resources is vested in the President, while the Forestry Commission (FC) is designated as the main implementing agency.
The Commission’s roles include managing protected and Ramsar areas, establishing new protected zones, preventing illegal use of wildlife, and acting as the Management Authority under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). The Act defines several categories of protected areas—such as national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, strict nature reserves, and resource reserves. The law also makes provision for wildlife management outside of protected areas which includes establishment of Community Resources Management Areas (CREMA).
Sheila further explained that, the Act 1115 would require accompanying Legislative Instruments (LIs) to become fully operational, especially in areas such as CREMA establishment, licensing requirements, and administrative frameworks.
Participants raised questions including how women could be appointed to advisory boards of wildlife management in the absence of local women’s groups. Ms. Sheila recommended community nomination and encouraged the formation of CREMAs to ensure inclusive representation.
The second presentation, led by Bernard Obeng Boateng of Taylor Crabbe, focused on digital tools for advocacy and workplace coordination. Mr. Boateng introduced participants to various AI-powered and productivity-enhancing tools such as SlideSpeak, ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini, and Google Studio. He highlighted their potential for improving advocacy work, time management, and smart workflows.
Participants were cautioned about the misuse of AI tools, particularly concerning data privacy and the uploading of sensitive organizational information. Mr. Boateng conducted a live demonstration on how to use SlideSpeak for generating presentations and emphasized the importance of crafting clear and concise prompts when using AI platforms. He also advised participants to always validate AI-generated information with subject matter knowledge to avoid inaccuracies.
The workshop was climaxed with group discussions, where participants discussed the roles of various stakeholders in implementing Act 1115, along with the challenges and potential solutions.
