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(…) Ghana also controls or restricts trade under treaties and international conventions to which it is a signatory, such as CITES, the Montreal Protocol, and the Basel Convention on Hazardous Waste. These prohibitions are listed in the Tariff of 2012. Ghana is a member of the Kimberley Process and applies import prohibitions, according to origin, on rough diamonds. Trade and economic sanctions may also be imposed, in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions.

Table 3.8 Export permit issuing agencies, 2013
Product: Wildlife e.g. reptiles, etc.
Premises inspection and permit issuing body: Department of Game & Wildlife

Product: Chemicals
Premises inspection and permit issuing body: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Table 3.9 Imports subject to prior authorization, 2014
Products: Wildlife e.g. reptiles, etc.
Premises inspection and permit-issuing body: Department of Game & Wildlife

Products: Chemical and allied products
Premises inspection and permit-issuing body: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

The Imports and Exports (Prohibited Goods) Regulations of 1994 prohibit commercial imports of used or second-hand: handkerchiefs; underpants; mattresses; and sanitary ware. Importation of used LPG cylinders, toxic waste, turkey tails, foreign soil, and medical soap containing mercuric iodine is also prohibited. (…)

The PPRSD (Directorates of Plant Protection and Regulatory Services) also has statutory responsibilities over plant pest and disease management, pesticide regulation and control, and inspection and certification. An Invasive Alien Species Secretariat (IAS-MOFA) groups experts from PPRSD, the Ministry of Environment Science and Technology, the EPA and other entities.

(…) Large investments are needed to restore growth in the fishing sector, affected by illegal fishing practices, and the absence of vessel registration and a proper licensing framework. In principle, foreign participation in the fishing sector is required in the form of joint ventures with local partners; in practice, most of the fishing industry is foreign-owned.

Ghana has not entered into any access agreements allowing European vessels to exploit resources within its EEZ (exclusive economic zone). According to the Ghanaian authorities, negotiations are ongoing for an access agreement. In fact, many foreign vessels do intrude into Ghana's EEZ. The monitoring, control and surveillance of the EEZ and the enforcement of the relevant fisheries' laws are weak, making it difficult to assess the level of illegal fishing and therefore the catch by foreign vessels. Although the level of unlicensed intruders is unknown, it is considered high despite the existence since 2005 of a vessel monitoring system to check illegal fishing in Ghana's EEZ. In July 2013, ten fishing companies were fined by the Fisheries Commission for illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing (IUU) in the country's waters and in breach of Ghana's fishing regulations.

The reform of the fishing sector is a priority for the Government, under the responsibility of the Ministry of Fisheries. Stated priorities are to improve fisheries governance to achieve sustainable fisheries management; modernize fishing fleets to meet SPS requirements in export markets; develop harbours and landing sites to improve fishing handling; reduce post-harvest losses; improve hygiene and sanitation at landing sites; and promote value addition for export to the EU under the Economic Partnership Agreement.

(…) the performance of forestry and logging has been strongly negative in recent years, particularly in 2011 and 2012 following measures to restrict illegal activities and attempts to stem the rate of deforestation. (…)

The performance of the forest and logging sub-sectors has been strongly negative in recent years, particularly in 2011 and 2012 following measures to restrict illegal activities. About 35% of Ghana's land area is covered by forests and woodlands, but this share is declining, with an annual rate of deforestation of 1.37%. Almost all forest land in Ghana is vested in local communities and opened to traditional activities, including the collection of non-timber forest products, hunting, and fuel wood collection, which partly explains the problem.