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Coordinated and published by The Grassroots Institute, the Grassroots Journal of Natural Resources (GJNR) is an international journal dedicated to the latest advancements in natural resources throughout the world. The goal of this journal is to provide a platform for scientists, social scientists, policy analysts, managers and practitioners (on all academic and professional levels) all over the world to promote, discuss and share various new issues and developments in different arenas of natural resources.
Multi-Stakeholder Governance in Ghana: A Polycentric Path to Sustainable Environmental Development
Richard Amanfo*1, Simon Abugre2, Samuel Fosu Gyasi3
1Department of Forest Science, School of Natural Resources, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani, Ghana; Complaint Unit, Judicial Service, Sunyani High Court, Sunyani, Ghana.
Email: richard.amanfo.stu@uenr.edu.gh | ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-6013-7901
2Department of Forest Science, School of Natural Resources, University of Energy and Natural Resources, P.O. Box 214, Sunyani, Ghana. Email: simon.abugre@uenr.edu.gh | ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5954-4374
3Department of Biological Sciences, School of Sciences, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani, Ghana; Center for Research in Applied Biology, School of Sciences, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani, Ghana. Email: samuel.gyasi@uenr.edu.gh | ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000 0002 2929 2516
*Corresponding author
Grassroots Journal of Natural Resources, 8(3): 445-468. Doi: https://doi.org/10.33002/nr2581.6853.080318
Received: 08 October 2025
Reviewed: 18 November 2025
Provisionally Accepted: 21 November 2025
Revised: 28 November 2025
Finally Accepted: 30 November 2025
Published: 31 December 2025
The sustainable management of natural resources has become a global priority. Yet in Ghana, illegal mining (“galamsey”) continues to escalate, causing severe degradation of forests, water bodies, and other ecosystems. This paper examined two core objectives: analyzing the systemic challenges faced by environmental law enforcement agencies in Ghana, and evaluating the extent to which the coordination among these agencies aligns with principles of polycentric governance. The research draws on qualitative data from interviews with 19 participants, including institutional heads and environmental-governance experts, and two focus-group discussions comprising 14 representatives from various enforcement bodies. The findings indicate that the effectiveness of these institutions is significantly undermined by a range of systemic challenges, including inadequate resources, limited institutional capacity resulting from limited training to address evolving environmental crimes, and political and other external interferences. The findings also indicate a lack of robust inter-agency coordination among enforcement agencies. The findings suggest that polycentric governance systems can foster superior coordination, whereas fragmented or overly centralized systems tend to perform poorly. The study recommends enacting laws to improve coordination among environmental enforcement agencies, modeled on Ghana’s Regional and District Security Councils (REGSEC/DISEC).
Environmental law enforcement; Polycentric governance; Environmental crime; Institutional coordination
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Amanfo, R., Abugre, S. and Gyasi, S.F. (2025). Multi-Stakeholder Governance in Ghana: A Polycentric Path to Sustainable Environmental Development. Grassroots Journal of Natural Resources, 8(3): 445-468. Doi: https://doi.org/10.33002/nr2581.6853.080318
Amanfo, R., Abugre, S., & Gyasi, S.F. (2025). Multi-Stakeholder Governance in Ghana: A Polycentric Path to Sustainable Environmental Development. Grassroots Journal of Natural Resources, 8(3), 445-468. https://doi.org/10.33002/nr2581.6853.080318
Amanfo R., Abugre S., Gyasi S.F. Multi-Stakeholder Governance in Ghana: A Polycentric Path to Sustainable Environmental Development. Grassroots Journal of Natural Resources, 2025, 8 (3), 445-468. https://doi.org/10.33002/nr2581.6853.080318
Amanfo, Richard, Abugre, Simon, Gyasi, Samuel Fosu. 2025. “Multi-Stakeholder Governance in Ghana: A Polycentric Path to Sustainable Environmental Development”. Grassroots Journal of Natural Resources, 8 no. 3: 445-468. https://doi.org/10.33002/nr2581.6853.080318
Amanfo, Richard, Simon Abugre and Samuel Fosu Gyasi. 2025. “Multi-Stakeholder Governance in Ghana: A Polycentric Path to Sustainable Environmental Development”. Grassroots Journal of Natural Resources, 8 (3): 445-468. https://doi.org/10.33002/nr2581.6853.080318
| Internet Archive: | https://archive.org/details/m-00618 |
| WorldCat: | https://search.worldcat.org/title/11063825660 |
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