Exploring the African traditional belief systems (totems and taboos) in natural resources conservation and management in Ghana

The aim of this paper is to discover how taboos and totems as belief systems have been used successfully to promote natural resources conservation and management in the Sankana and Tongo-Tengzuk communities of Ghana. Using primary and secondary data sources, it was observed that the communities have served as classic examples of successful traditional natural resources conservation and management through totems and taboos. Therefore, the authors, on the basis of the above success, recommend a holistic approach involving the government through the Ghana Tourism Authority, civil society organisations, and religious leaders to encourage people to apply by-laws and other traditional belief mediums that link human existence to the natural environment in the conservation efforts in Ghana.