The 2025 Closed Season has been launched at the Gbele Resource Reserve (GRR), Tumu, in the Upper West Region by the Wildlife Division (WD) of the Forestry Commission (FC).
The 2025 Closed Season, which starts from every year, 1st August to 1st December, was launched on the theme “United against Wildlife Crime for our Common Future”. The Closed Season (CS) is a period in the year, for the purpose of protecting wildlife during their breeding and nurturing season, allowing them to reproduce and replenish their populations.
The event which was held at the Tumu Training College of Education Auditorium witnessed the gathering of an array of stakeholders such as Chiefs and Traditional Authorities, government functionaries and institutions, the Security Services, schools and educational institutions, non-governmental organisations, hunters, Community Resource Management Area (CREMA) groups and the general public to launch the season as well as celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the GRR since its establishment.
The Chief of the Pieng Traditional Area, Kuoru Humphrey Bonkpau Tordia, who stood in as Chairman for the Tumu Paramount Chief, Kuoru Richard Banini Kanton VI, in his remarks highlighted the relevance of the GRR to the Upper West Region and commended the Wildlife Division and the Traditional Authorities and local communities for their stewardship and efforts for the five decades of the Park’s establishment.
“But as we reflect on the five decades of achievements, we must also be aware of the challenges ahead such as poaching, bush burning, illegal logging, encroachment, bush fires and climate change which are constant threats to the integrity of the GRR, and its standing and thriving for another 50 years, and therefore we must act with urgency in tackling these threats”, he explained.
He called on all stakeholders to fully comply with the ban, which is essential to preserving our natural resources as well as protecting the integrity and sustenance of GRR.
The Chief Director of the Upper West Regional Coordinating Council, Madam Hajia Pognaa Fati Issaka Koray, who represented the Regional Minister, Hon. Charles Lwanga Puozuing, Esq. noted that the government, knowing how essential natural resources are to the country has through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the FC undertaken several interventions to clamp down on illegal mining activities happening across the country, particularly in our forest reserves.
Enumerating some of the successes of GRR for the past 50 years, Madam Hajia Koray stressed that government was ready to support prospective investors for the Park’s development. Additionally, we would support organisations that will like to facilitate Community Resource Management Areas (CREMAs) and livelihood projects as well as Community projects, she added.
The WD Director of Operations, Protected Areas, Mr Umaru Farouk Dubiure, who read a speech on behalf of the Executive Director of WD, Dr Joseph Boakye, Esq. pointed out that in line with the Division’s decision to allow each of the 16 regions to get to host the CS launch, the event was at Gbele this year, and was also to celebrate the Reserve’s 50 years anniversary.
He further explained that the selection of the theme for the Closed Season 2025 was carefully crafted to reflect the critical role wildlife plays in our lives as a people and the ecosystem, as well as in tandem with the Forestry Commission’s vision of leaving future generation and their communities with richer, better, more value forest and wildlife endowments that we inherited.
On GRR, Mr Dubiure on behalf of the Wildlife Division expressed profound gratitude and appreciation to past and present management of the Reserve, for their committed and dedicated services in sustaining the only Protected Area (PA) in the Upper West Region.
There were statements from the District Chief Executive (DCE) of Daffiamah Bussie Issa Constituency, Hon. James Wor; DCE of Sissala West, Hon. Abudu Fuseini; Municipal Chief Executive of Sissala East, Hon. Adamu Yakubu; as well as representatives of the Members of Parliament for Sissala East, Hon. Mohammed Issah Bataglia; Sissala West, Hon. Adam Mohammed Sukparu; and Daffiamah Bussie Issa Constituency, Hon. Dr Sabastian Sandaare; the Chief Executive Officer of the Bui Power Authority, and the Ghana Police Service.
As part of the event, awards were given to nine long and deserving staff of the GRR, and other six past Park Managers who had significantly contributed to the success of the Reserve for the past 50 years.
Similarly, the Kanton Senior High School received a 32-inch Television set and cash prize for winning a conservation based quiz among four Senior High Schools from the Sissala East and Sissala West districts, organised to celebrate the anniversary.
An exhibition of wildlife artefacts, skulls, skins and pictures were displayed and this was handled by the WD Public Relations Unit and staff of the Mole National Park.