Rocha Ghana condemns Adom TV use of Pangolins for ‘Fufuo Party,’ calls for investigations
A Rocha Ghana has condemns in no uncertain terms, the capture, and destruction of pangolins in the recently ‘Adom TV Fufuo Party’ held in Accra on Independence Day.
The act which is widely published on Adom TV Instagram page and viewed by over 12,000 fans is in breach of the Wildlife Preservation Act 43 and its regulations in Wildlife Conservation Regulation L.I 685 and its Amendments.
A Rocha Ghana has therefore call for an investigation into activities that led to the display of a dead and alive pangolin, an endangered and wholly protected species in Ghana, at the ‘Adom TV Fufuo Party’.
A Statement signed by Mr Daryl Bosu, Deputy National Director of A Rocha Ghana and copied to the media on Sunday said: “It has come to our notice that organizers of the second edition of the popular ‘Adom TV Fufuo Party’ which took place on March 6, 2019, supervised the ‘Illegal’ use of PANGOLINS, an endangered and globally protected species for some of the local delicacies featured at the event”.
“In a widely publicized video spotted by our team, two Pangolins, commonly known as ‘aprawa,’ an endangered species, together with other animals had been stunned and displayed on a mat at the premises of the Multimedia Group, one of the largest independent commercial media and entertainment company in Ghana, during the event. One of the pangolins was clearly alive, while the other was dead, with blood all over its scales”.
It said, A Rocha Ghana finds it hard to believe that a well-respected media entity like Adom TV oversaw such illegality three weeks, after the 16th of February, which was World Pangolin Day, where the hashtag #Stoppangolintrade was in the trends for two days running and the day carried by several media outlets.
The statement said the feature and publicity of Adom TV which encouraged and endorsed the capture and destruction of pangolins was most unfortunate and erodes efforts in the last five years to minimize and eliminate the trade in pangolins.
Remedial Action
The statement invited Adom TV to remedy the impropriety and show true commitment to the fight against illegal pangolin hunting and trade by using its popular television and social media handles to support national efforts at addressing the pangolin hunting and trade in Ghana.
It reiterated the fact that, the hunting, trade and destruction of pangolins was illegal and persons found culpable must be allowed to face the full rigorous of the law.
According to the statement, A Rocha Ghana was firmly and resolutely committed to all necessary measures that will ensure that Pangolins do not go into extinction and are equally resolved to fight the menace of poaching and trading of the endangered species.
The Organization call on all well-meaning individuals and organizations to join the fight in ending pangolin trade in Ghana, adding, “Let’s work together to reduce consumer demand for these products through awareness campaigns. You can help by spreading the word on social media and always saying no to pangolin products.”
Facts about the Pangolin
According to the statement, recent studies has found that about 400,000 pangolins are traded every year in Africa, with the trade increasing and no solution in site making it crucial for targeted awareness and dedicated law enforcement and compliance actions to secure this amazing creature.
It said out of the eight species of Pangolins in the world, Ghana has three (Tree or African white-bellied pangolin, Giant ground pangolin and Long-tailed or black-bellied pangolin).
The statement according to the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission, the population of Pangolins in Ghana was not known, but the species was however wholly protected by national laws.
It said there is an international protection for the species through the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES, Appendix I) and thus, cannot be exported or hunted even for its meat which is a delicacy in Ghana.
“Our delicacy for bush meat which is not bad itself is however driving our biodiversity to extinction leaving a lot of our forests empty of any wildlife. This is the time to change our attitudes when they are against the laws of the state and threatens the co-existence of man and wildlife crucial for the development infrastructure of our nation”.
Source-News Desk
