This thesis is the result of a study of the Mole National Park Project and its impact on the local community. The study seeks to investigate the local people‘s perceptions and expectations of as well as opinions on the establishment and management of Park and the extent to which its activities have impacted on the socio-economic and environmental conditions of the local people. Another key element of the wildlife conservation management project that the study sought to examine is the current level of local community‘s involvement and participation in the rural development initiatives of the Park project. A case study approach was adopted. Qualitative data was collected by means of individual interviews, focus group discussions, and informal talks with key informants as well as through observation and document review. The local residents and Park employees were randomly or accidentally sampled, whilst local officials and opinion leaders were purposively /strategically sampled.
The study revealed that the chiefs/elders but not the ordinary residents were involved in the land acquisition negotiations by government to establish the Park project and these traditional leaders received compensation on behalf of their subjects. The data indicates that the exclusion of ordinary people or their limited participation in park activities especially, in management and administrative issues contributed to a mixture of perceptions about the Park project and its effects. Generally, a majority of the local people especially women were happy with the recent development initiatives instituted by Park management in collaboration with International Conservation Agencies. Income generating activities through micro-credit schemes and improvement in public services were considered of high priority, as means of possible wildlife conservation resource development of the area. On the other hand, some people especially, male were dissatisfied due to their limited involvement in the management issues of the park project. The results indicate that there is the need for a new management scheme with greater participation of local communities in the decision-making process and particularly involving the youth.