Enforcement of logging regulations in Ghana: Perspectives of frontline regulatory officers

Abstract

This study examines how the state regulator enforces logging regulations with the view to understand how that influences compliance-violation behaviour of loggers in Ghana. It does so by drawing on the perspectives and experiences of fifty (50) frontline officials directly engaged in forest law enforcement in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The study finds that the deterrent effect of the state regulator is weak for two main reasons. First, the frontline officials have poor proactive detection capacity due to resource constraints. Second, they lack sufficient legal authority to issue strong sanctions and, even within their authority, issues sanctions far below the prescribed maximum because of interferences from the political through socio-cultural to administrative settings, and corrupt practices. To improve enforcement effectiveness, the study recommends the following. First, detection should be enhanced through aerial patrols and reconnaissance surveys using drones and other modern technologies. Second, there should be a real risk of sanction certainty and severity for loggers who violate the logging regulations and officials caught in corrupt practices and third, a strong network of local and international actors including the media and civil society groups playing an oversight role.