A Youth and Social worker, Victor Fosu-Boamah, has urged the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission in the Bono Region to strictly enforce the ban on hunting during the close season for this year.

According to him, despite the important role being played by wildlife in Ghana, the hitherto abundant 'biodiversity wealth' is fast dwindling due to human encroachment, forest degradation, illegal mining as well as pollution of water bodies.

He said the results of these activities are the severe climate impacts that have caused the drying up of many water bodies, extinction of prime timber species leading to the destruction of wildlife habitats among others.

Mr Fosu-Boamah noted that the consequence is the decline in wild animal populations adding “this decline must be halted and reversed if we are to sustain our own heritage and livelihoods and that is why I entreat the Wildlife people to ensure strict adherence to the ban on hunting for this short period”.

“In the national interest and within the means available to us, the challenge facing us today is no longer deciding whether conservation is a good idea but rather how it can be implemented. The Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission owes Ghanaians living today and the future generation a duty to preserve wildlife within all the ecological zones of Ghana”.

He, therefore, encouraged the public particularly hunters, in the wildlife enterprise to temporarily stop their activities during the close season and also be circumspect during the open season.

“I also urge other security agencies, particularly the police to effectively collaborate with the Wildlife Division for a successful close division,” he added.

The Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission has banned hunting of wild animals during the close season from August 1 till December 1 this year, to protect wildlife in line with the Wildlife Conservation Regulations- L.I 685 of 1971.