Hunting in Greater Accra: Exploring Demographics, Finding Out Types of Game, and Diving Into Local Traditions

The Greater Accra Region, home to Ghana’s bustling capital and the country’s smallest by land area, is predominantly urban. However, pockets of rural settlements, coastal wetlands, and forest fragments still exist around the periphery. In these areas, hunting continues on a small scale, driven largely by subsistence needs, cultural customs, and informal trade. Though the region is rapidly urbanizing, remnants of traditional hunting practices and bushmeat markets remain relevant, particularly in peri-urban and rural fringe communities. Geography and Natural Features of Greater Accra for Hunting Greater Accra’s terrain includes coastal plains, mangroves, wetlands, low hills, and dry savanna woodland. Areas such as the Densu Delta, Sakumo Lagoon, and the Shai Hills Resource Reserve offer some of the region’s remaining natural habitats. While most of the land is used for residential, industrial, and agricultural purposes, small game and aquatic species are still found near water bodies, farmlands, and degraded forests on the city’s outskirts. Specificities of Hunting in Greater Accra Hunting in Greater Accra is typically opportunistic and small-scale, practiced in rural or peri-urban areas such as Dodowa, Afienya, Amasaman, and Ada. Traditional methods like snares, traps, slingshots, and hunting dogs are used, although some hunters also utilize unregistered firearms. Given the lack of dense forests, hunting focuses on small game, and is often conducted in fallow lands, thickets, or near wetlands. Hunting within protected areas like Shai Hills is strictly prohibited and monitored by rangers. Hunters and Demographics in Greater Accra Hunters in Greater Accra are primarily older rural men, though younger individuals sometimes assist or hunt birds recreationally. Women do not typically engage in the hunting itself but are heavily involved in processing and selling bushmeat, especially in markets like Agbogbloshie, Madina, or Ashaiman. Due to the region’s urban character, hunting is not as culturally central as in other regions, but in some Ga and Dangme communities, it remains part of the traditional lifestyle. Types of Game and Hunting in Greater Accra Small game: Grasscutters (cane rats), monitor lizards, squirrels, rats, and small birds like doves and guinea fowl. Aquatic species: Frogs, tilapia, mudfish, and freshwater crabs are harvested near rivers and lagoons. Occasional game: In bushier or more remote parts, hunters may catch mongooses or hares. Protected species: Primates, pangolins, and any game within protected zones are off-limits under Ghanaian law. Hunting Seasons in Greater Accra Like the rest of Ghana, Greater Accra follows the national hunting regulations: Open season: From 1st August to 31st December, hunting of non-protected species is allowed. Closed season: From 1st January to 31st July, hunting is prohibited to allow for breeding and conservation. In addition, hunting within city boundaries or protected zones is banned year-round. Customary practices among some Ga communities may influence when and where hunting can occur. Hunting Structures and Local Organization in Greater Accra There are no formal hunting associations in Greater Accra, but informal hunting persists in peripheral towns. Chiefs and elders in rural areas may still regulate communal lands and forests. In areas close to reserves like Shai Hills, Forestry Commission officers and wildlife rangers oversee enforcement. Occasionally, community-based conservation education programs are organized to sensitize residents about wildlife protection and alternatives to bushmeat hunting. Hunting Legislation in Greater Accra Hunting in the region is governed by Ghana’s Wildlife Conservation Regulations (LI 685). Hunting of protected species and the use of illegal methods—such as poison or bushfires—is strictly prohibited. Permits are required for legal hunting, though enforcement is limited outside designated areas. In Greater Accra, urban expansion and population pressure pose greater risks to wildlife than traditional hunting. Hunting Traditions in Greater Accra While not as prominent as in forested regions, hunting traditions do exist among Ga-Dangme communities, especially in areas like Ada, Prampram, and Dodowa. In some cases, hunting forms part of rituals, initiation ceremonies, or ancestral practices, often tied to land and family heritage. Certain sacred groves and water bodies are protected by taboo, helping to preserve biodiversity informally through cultural belief systems. Interesting Facts about Hunting in Greater Accra The Shai Hills Resource Reserve used to be a traditional hunting ground for the Shai people but is now a protected area. Bushmeat, especially grasscutter, is still sold in markets like Makola and Madina, though often sourced from other regions. Sacred groves near Ada and Dodowa are protected by custom, and hunting there is forbidden. Some local fishers near Ada Foah hunt amphibians and reptiles alongside fishing activities. Urban development has significantly reduced wildlife populations, leading to increased bushmeat imports from other parts of Ghana. In Greater Accra, hunting is no longer a dominant activity but remains a localized and culturally significant practice in specific rural areas. As the region continues to urbanize, the challenge lies in protecting its remaining natural habitats while educating communities on sustainable alternatives and wildlife conservation. By blending tradition with regulation, Greater Accra can maintain its cultural heritage while contributing to Ghana’s national biodiversity goals.