Support to Civil Society Organisations to Increase Natural Resources Management and Environmental Governance in Ghana

Abstract

Ghana with a socio-economic growth rate of 6 to 7 percent per year is endowed with rich natural resources which are over exploited. The Government of Ghana is confronted with serious challenges if it is to ‘achieve its aims of securing the natural resource base, reducing environmental degradation, protecting natural resource-dependent communities, and increasing revenues from timber and mining sectors’. The complexities involved in the governance of natural resources require an in-depth sector specific dialogue and focus if significant reforms are to be attained. This study sought to explore feasible options to empower Civil Society (CS) to increase its involvement in governance of natural resources in Ghana and also to elicit and document responses on the factors that facilitate or constrain CS in NRM. The study was conducted in five (5) regions of Ghana namely, Greater Accra, Ashanti, Western, Brong Ahafo and Northern Regions. It employed multidisciplinary and multi-sectoral approaches supported largely with other participatory methodologies. The study identified the socio-political milieu in which CS and their groups live and work at the local level determines the issues and the extent of engagement. It was recommended that there is the need to reduce political patronage in the Environmental Natural Resources (ENR) sectors. 

Keywords: strengthen, empower, consultations, enforcement, engagement