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Decline in vulture population poses danger to society – Wildlife Researcher
• Vultures are nature’s garbage collectors
The decline in population of vultures known in the local parlance as ‘pete or kokosakyi’ to a staggering 97 per cent predisposes society to diseases like cholera, rabies, botulism (food poisoning caused by bacteria) among others, which are mainly transmitted from infected wild and domestic animals.
Vultures which are nature’s garbage collectors are at a “very high risk” of extinction and their natural role of clearing carcasses and other organic waste found in the environment would not be felt.
Research and Project Officer of the Ghana Wildlife Society (GWS), Mr Joseph Kwesi Afrifa disclosed this alarming situation to this reporter to commemorate the International Vulture Awareness Day (IVAD) which falls today, September 3, 2022.
He said “Without vultures, decomposing dead and decaying matter will litter our environment and pose high risk to public health reminiscing a case in Indian 1994 Surat plague where carcasses left unattended among other sanitary problems, led to the spread of deadly diseases.”
This year’s (IVAD) theme “Vultures, our garbage crew” is to among other things highlight the importance of these birds, create awareness on the danger they face and garner support for their conservation.
On the importance of vultures, Mr Afrifa cited a recent research which said that up to about 70 per cent of carcasses left after the migration of wild beast from the Mara to the Serengeti in Tanzania were removed by vultures alone without any human intervention.
Vultures play significant ecological and economic roles in our environment, yet human activities such as non-selective poisoning, use of parts of vultures for rituals, trade in vulture parts for use in traditional medicines, persecution and habitat loss threaten their existence.
According to Mr Afrifa “another threat to vulture existence is when, some poachers, intentionally target the scavengers to cover up their activities so that they don’t hover to alert forest guards of the location of their crimes”.
The Ghana Wildlife Society (GWS), therefore, calls for vigorous education and adoption of the International Vulture Awareness Day (IVAD) nationwide, to sensitise the public to conservation of vultures to keep “our garbage crew” alive for future generations.
He said robust scientific research and technologies in monitoring vulture population with collaborative international conservation efforts would also go a long way in conserving vultures.
Mr Afrifa said that Hooded vultures were the most common vultures in Ghana, with others like the White-backed, White-headed, Rüppell’s and Egyptian vulture which had been recorded in different locations in the country.
“So anytime you see a vulture remember they are the ones keeping our environment clean from decomposing dead and decaying matter, they are environmental heroes not witches as some misconstrue”, he emphasised.
By Portia Hutton-Mills
The Ghana High Commission in Pretoria has advised Ghanaians living in South Africa to remain vigilant and take precautionary measures ahead of planned protest activities expected on June 30.
In a public advisory issued on Monday, June 29, the Mission urged Ghanaian nationals to prioritise their safety following a deadline announced by a group known as “March and March” and its affiliated organisations, which could lead to demonstrations and disruptions in parts of the country.
The High Commission advised Ghanaians to stay indoors, especially in central business districts, transport hubs, informal trading areas and other locations where protests may occur.
It encouraged them to temporarily close their businesses where necessary and avoid unnecessary movement until the situation stabilises.
The Mission further urged members of the Ghanaian community to avoid confrontations or provocative discussions, including on social media, and to ensure that their passports, residence permits and other identification documents were readily available at all times.
According to the High Commission, emergency telephone lines have been activated to provide assistance and receive reports from Ghanaians who may require help during the period.
It encouraged Ghanaians to remain calm, obey the laws of South Africa and cooperate fully with local authorities.
The Mission advised them to rely only on information from credible official sources and avoid sharing unverified reports or rumours that could create unnecessary panic.
The Ghana High Commission assured the Ghanaian community that it would continue to monitor developments and provide updates when necessary, adding that it remained committed to protecting the welfare of all Ghanaian nationals in South Africa.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has criticised the government’s handling of the flooding that hit parts of Accra and surrounding communities on Monday, urging it to move beyond what it described as public relations activities and take decisive action to address the country’s flood challenges.
In a press release issued on June 29, the party expressed sympathy to thousands of people affected by the floods but maintained that the government had failed to respond effectively to the recurring disaster.
The NPP noted that communities including the N1 Highway, Apenkwa, Achimota, Kaneshie, Weija, Spintex, Darkuman Junction and the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange were flooded after heavy rains.
According to the party, these communities have experienced flooding repeatedly over the years, making it necessary for government to adopt long term solutions.
The NPP argued that the current administration had created confusion by splitting responsibility for flood management between the Ministry of Local Government and the Ministry of Works, Housing and Water Resources.
It claimed that the arrangement had resulted in poor coordination, with the two ministries competing over responsibilities instead of working together to address the problem.
The party questioned the decision to place Deputy Chief of Staff Stan Dogbe in charge of coordinating flood response efforts.
According to the NPP, he does not have the authority to direct ministers, making the current command structure ineffective.
The opposition party further alleged that some anti flood measures announced by the government had either not been implemented or had been poorly executed.
It claimed that delays in the release of funds for flood mitigation programmes had affected ongoing interventions.
The NPP rejected recent comments by President John Dramani Mahama that flooding was partly caused by poor environmental practices and indiscipline among some citizens.
It argued that while public cooperation was important, the government should take responsibility for designing and implementing effective flood management policies.
The party called on the President to place flood management under one ministry, appoint a single minister to lead the response, and provide a public account of the work and spending of the Anti Flood Task Force.
It also urged the government to work closely with Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies and technical experts to improve land use planning, sanitation management and drainage infrastructure.
The statement, signed by the NPP General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, stressed that the party would continue to hold the government accountable while standing with families affected by the floods.
By: Jacob Aggrey
