DEVELOPMENT REPORT – September 23, 2002: Bushmeat Hunting in Ghana
By Jill Moss
This is the VOA Special English Development Report.
An American-based environmental group says hunting wild animals in Ghana has become a serious problem.
Conservation International reports that more than thirty percent of wild animal meat supplied to local markets in
Ghana contains dangerous chemicals. This is creating serious health and environmental risks in the country.
Conservation International says hunters use extreme methods to kill wild animals. These
include poison, forest fires and guns. These methods are dangerous for people, wildlife and the
environment. The country now suffers from a lack of wildlife because so many animals have
been killed.
The crisis was the subject of a two-day conference in Accra last month. More than two-hundred people attended.
They included government officials, non-governmental organizations, tribal leaders and representatives of the
animal meat trade. Their goal was to find ways to limit the amount of bushmeat eaten by Ghanaians and to create
other economic possibilities. Currently, the country’s animal meat trade is a three-hundred-fifty-million dollar
industry.
Officials released an action plan at the close of the Accra conference. It calls on the Ghanaian government to
examine and improve its wildlife laws. It also urges a ban on the use of extreme hunting methods and a halt to
wildlife exports. The action plan also calls for stronger government supervision of the bushmeat industry to
protect public health and the dying out of rare animals.
In addition to health and environmental concerns created by this crisis, officials say Ghanaian culture also could
be affected. Okyeame Ampadu-Agyei (oh-chee-YA-mee am-pa-DOO ah-JAY) is the head of Conservation
International in Ghana. He says that most ethnic groups in the country believe the animals being hunted are
linked to the people’s ancestors. Local tribes consider the animals to be signs of their history and family
traditions.
Mister Ampadu-Agyei says Ghanaian culture and history is in danger. In the past, local rulers helped protect the
country’s wild animals by enforcing traditional rules and customs. Mister Ampadu-Agyei says if Ghana is not
careful, all its wildlife will disappear and nothing will be left to show the nation’s children.
This VOA Special English Development Report was written by Jill Moss.
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