DEVELOPMENT REPORT - Bushmeat Hunting in Ghana

DEVELOPMENT REPORT – September 23, 2002: Bushmeat Hunting in Ghana

By Jill Moss¹

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, tribal² 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 supervision³ 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 affected⁴. Okyeame Ampadu-Agyei (oh-chee-YA-mee am-pa-DOO ah-JAY) is the head of Conservation
International in Ghana. He says that most ethnic⁵ 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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1 moss   

n.苔，藓，地衣

参考例句：

• Moss grows on a rock.苔藓生在石头上。
• He was found asleep on a pillow of leaves and moss.有人看见他枕着树叶和苔藓睡着了。

2 tribal   

adj.部族的，种族的

参考例句：

• He became skilled in several tribal lingoes.他精通几种部族的语言。
• The country was torn apart by fierce tribal hostilities.那个国家被部落间的激烈冲突弄得四分五裂。

3 supervision   

n.监督，管理

参考例句：

• The work was done under my supervision.这项工作是在我的监督之下完成的。
• The old man's will was executed under the personal supervision of the lawyer.老人的遗嘱是在律师的亲自监督下执行的。

4 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

5 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。