Bush Meat Gives Ghana More Revenue Than Mining

[jeff91]

let me be the first to make a thread lol



It is almost common knowledge that wild animal meat sold in Ghana's major markets every year amounts to anything between 200 and 350 million dollars in revenue. Perhaps, what is unknown to many Ghanaians is that these revenues from the sale of grasscutter (akrantie), antelopes, rats, snails, birds, etc., rub shoulders with, and even outstrip annual revenues from timber and minerals.

The Forest Services Division (FSD) of the Forestry Commission (FC) has confirmed that in 2008 and 2009 timber fetched Ghana a total of 350 million dollars in each of the two years, comprising 250 million dollars export revenue and an estimated 100 million dollars for 400,000 cubic metres of wood consumed locally. But 80% of this wood is considered illegal.

And although gross mineral revenues may appear several times higher than what is realised from the sale of wild meat, actual revenues accruing to government from minerals is a paltry sum, almost half of what is realized from bush meat.

For instance, the 2009 budget and fiscal policy statement of the Government of Ghana states that total mineral revenues for 2008 amounted to about $2.3 billion. But, according to the Chamber of Mines, mining companies paid about GH¢180 million (about 5%) to the Government of Ghana in that year. Also, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in 2005 mentioned that out of the total mineral revenue of about $870 million generated in 2003, only $46.7 million, representing 5%, was retained in Ghana.