Experts propose national park status for Ghana’s Cape Three Points Forest

Conservation experts are calling for the conversion of Ghana’s Cape Three Points Forest Reserve into a national park to safeguard the country’s first Marine Protected Area (MPA). Stephen Kankam, Deputy Director of Hɛn Mpoano, argues that the forest and marine ecosystems must be managed as a single ecological unit because the health of coastal fisheries depends on the upstream forest.

Rivers such as the Nyan, Butre, and Ezele carry nutrients and sediments from the forest into coastal wetlands and mangroves, which serve as vital breeding and nursery grounds for fish. Experts warn that illegal mining and deforestation within the reserve and along adjoining waterways threaten these habitats, potentially undermining efforts to restore depleted fish stocks in the Gulf of Guinea.

To combat illegal mining, Kankam has proposed establishing permanent protection camps within the forest to allow security agencies to maintain a continuous presence. Additionally, the proposal emphasizes the need to address the concerns of coastal communities by providing alternative livelihoods and improving local infrastructure. A management plan for the MPA is currently being developed through stakeholder consultations and is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, with implementation slated for January 2027.