The strategy has four distinct components: addressing the underlying causes of loss of biodiversity, improving the biodiversity status, enhancing accruable benefits, and enhancing strategy implementation. Across the four components, the strategy has 20 different action plans.

The plan sets out the operationalization of the water sector policy objectives contained in the National Water Policy and the Ghana Shared Growth and Development Agenda (GSGDA 2010-2013). It has a vision of “sustainable water and basic sanitation for all by 2025”.

The development plan is conceived to coordinate and guide all activities and interventions of the Ministry of Water Resources, Works, and Housing. It aims to ensure implementation of all strategies charged at addressing the challenges faced by the Ministry.

This is the first comprehensive land policy in Ghana. It thus sets the foundation for addressing fundamental land management issues which include: general indiscipline in the land market, land encroachments, multiple land sales, use of unapproved development schemes, haphazard development, indeterminate boundaries of lands from lack of reliable maps and plans, and compulsory acquisition by Government of large tracts of land.

The Act revises the Stamp Act of 1965

The development plan translates the policy objectives of the GSGDA II (2014-2017) into actionable plans for implementation. The development plan is conceived to coordinate and guide all activities and interventions of the Ministry of Water Resources, Works, and Housing. It aims to ensure implementation of all strategies charged at addressing the challenges faced by the Ministry.

Vision 2020 represents the national coordinating policy of Ghana for a 25 year period (1996 through 2020). The overall objective of the Vision 2020 is to become a middle-income country by 2020, prioritising human development, economic growth, rural development, urban development and an enabling environment. Food and nutrition security (reduction of infant, child, maternal, and women mortality) and access to health services, safe drinking water and sanitation will be improved especially among poor and disadvantaged groups in society.

The Aquaculture Development Plan complements other efforts and interventions charged towards averting reduction in stocks of captured fish. It aims to revitalise the fisheries subsector as a tool for accelerated growth. The broader goal is to develop the aquaculture value chain in the face of rising fish prices, to project the subsector as a veritable business venture.

This serves as the plan towards the implementation of the National Seed Policy, as government believes the seed subsector holds the key to enhancing agricultural productivity and by extension, food security. It earmarks the private seed sector as the lead in the commercial aspect of the plan.

The act works towards revising and deepening the laws on land use and spatial planning. It establishes the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority with the objective of ensuring judicious use of lands, providing for a sustainable development of land, and driving the planning decentralisation system of Ghana to the district assemblies, for efficient delivery of services.

The national social protection policy of Ghana provides the framework for purposive, targeted and effective social protection plans and interventions. It reperesents Ghana’s commitment and action on the Sustainable Development Goals, especially goals 1, 8, and 16. In the short term, it seeks to leverage on five flagship programmes: the Livelihoods
Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP), the Labour Intensive Public Works (LIPW), the School Feeding Programme (SFP), the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Exemptions, and the Basic Education Capitation Grants.

The act establishes a committee to take stock of properties confiscated to the State. The committee shall locate and take inventory of assets confiscated to the state by the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council, make recommendations to the President regarding disposal, and ensure that non-state organizations and individuals are not beneficiaries.

The act makes provisions for the prevention of the spread of infectious diseases. It addresses claims on compensation with regards to containment measures taken. It gives powers to the minister in charge to declare an infected area and declare a need for evacuation. It also states among others, that a person shall not reside or do business in an infected area.

The act establishes the Meat Marketing Board, with the functions to: purchase and manage all logistics regarding transport of meat consumed in the country, make financial arrangements and transactions, and see to the delivery of cattle to recognised butchers’ associations.

The act establishes the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands and provides for the administration of Stool Lands. The office is responsible for the management of the stool land account and the funds contained therein.

The act provides for the development of irrigation in Ghana. It establishes the Irrigation Development Authority to, among other things, see to the formulation of irrigation plans for development, develop water resources for irrigated farming, and to safeguard the health and environmental aesthetics of citizens living around irrigation sites.

The Programme of Economic and Social Development Policies is in fulfilment of Article 36 (5) of the Constitution of Ghana – “…within two years after assuming office, the President shall present to Parliament a coordinated programme of economic and social development policies, including agricultural and industrial programmes at all levels and in all the regions of Ghana”. The policies, themed “Agenda for Change” prioritises four key goals: Creating opportunities for all Ghanaians; Safeguarding the natural environment and ensuring a resilient built environment; Maintaining a stable, united and safe country; and Building a prosperous nation.

The regulations contained therein aim to serve the folowing purposes: regulation of the terms and conditions for small and large scale timber rights, provision for a legality licensing scheme, regulation of identification of suitable lands, and regulation of alternative sources of timber.

The regulations contained therein are issued with respect to health and safety in (land) mining operations in Ghana. They also concern the protection of the environment and, in particular, prescribe technical and safety standards for mining operations and provide with respect to mining operation plans and mining operation permits.

The 1995 forest policy follows from the 1948 policy. It pushes for an ecologically sound and sustainable devlopment of a national forest estate and timber industry that ultimately preserves the cultural heritage of the country. “The strategies for the management of forest reserves, protected areas and wildlife protected areas are (i) soil conservation, (ii) protection of water resources, (iii) biodiversity conservation, (iv) environmental protection and (v) sustainable use of natural resources”.