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Increase investment in digital technologies to address Wildlife Challenges- Ecocare Ghana
EcoCare Ghana, a prominent environmental advocacy organisation, is urging for increased investment and the implementation of advanced digital technologies to address the growing challenges facing Ghana’s wildlife on Widelife Day.
The World Wildlife Day, March 3, is a day set to celebrate the natural world and to raise awareness of the importance of protecting wildlife.
The group emphasises the importance of creating a centralised data system to store and share information collected by scientists, researchers and the public in order to better protect Ghana’s wildlife.
Additionally, they stated that this centralised data system will facilitate precise data collection on the remaining wildlife, predict future trends and develop proactive solutions to prevent extinction.
Ghana is celebrated for its seven national parks, six resource reserves, two wildlife sanctuaries and diverse biodiversity.
The country known for hosting over 750 bird species and iconic wildlife like antelopes, elephants, primates, baboons, marine turtles, and crocodiles is currently encountering unparalleled challenges.
Various human activities, such as poaching, deforestation, pollution, overfishing, overhunting, illegal trade, and both legal and illegal mining, have pushed many species to the verge of extinction, according to Global Forest Watch. The report shows a significant loss of 118,000 hectares of natural forest in 2022.
Although there are continuous attempts to conserve and manage biodiversity sustainably, conventional conservation approaches have limited effectiveness.
In light of this, Ecocare Ghana emphasised in a statement the importance and timeliness of the World Wildlife Day (WWD) 202 on the theme ‘Connecting People and Planet: Exploring digital Innovation in Wildlife Conservation”
The organisation stated that in a time where technology plays a significant role in society, incorporating digital innovations into wildlife conservation is essential for advocating sustainability.
“As we commemorate WWD today, it is crucial to highlight certain events within our country that are hindering the efforts to preserve and protect the habitats of wildlife and biodiversity is important to draw attention to some occurrences on the domestic scene which is undermining efforts being made to protect and safeguard the habitat of wildlife and other biodiversity,” they added.
The recent choice made by the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources to reclassify Globally Significant Biodiversity Areas (GSBAs) and permit logging in these areas is a significant setback to the positive leadership he demonstrated on the global stage.
They, therefore, also used this occasion to call for the repeal of LI 2462 which allows for mining in forest reserves and other protected areas.
According to them “EcoCare Ghana advocates for the strategic use of technology to benefit both people and the environment. This is a critical moment to strengthen the bond between humans and the natural world through the integration of technology in wildlife conservation initiative We call on all stakeholders to prioritise and support digital innovations to protect Ghana’s wildlife for future generations.”
Muslims across the country celebrated this year’s Eid-ul-Adha in a colourful and spiritually uplifting atmosphere under the theme, “A Season of Sacrifice, Solidarity and Spiritual Renewal.”
The celebration brought together Muslims from diverse backgrounds in a remarkable display of faith, unity and cultural heritage.
The occasion was marked by special Eid prayers at various designated grounds, the slaughtering of rams in homes for sharing among family members, friends and the less privileged, as well as musical concerts and recreational activities including horse riding.
Leading the celebration was the Chief Imam, Dr Sheikh Osman Sharubutu.
While the national celebration was held at the Black Star Square where President John Dramani Mahama was the Special Guest of Honour, similar gatherings took place at different centres across the capital and other regions of the country.
A visit by The Spectator to some celebration grounds revealed Muslims, both young and old, elegantly dressed in colourful jalabiya and other Islamic attire, reflecting the rich culture and traditions of the Muslim community.
The celebration also portrayed the spirit of religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence in the country, as a number of Christians joined their Muslim counterparts to mark the occasion.
Muslim leaders and government officials used the opportunity to call on the faithful to uphold the teachings of the Holy Quran, renew their spiritual commitment and refrain from acts capable of undermining the peace, unity and security of the nation.
They further urged Ghanaians to continue to live in harmony and support one another for national development.
By Linda Abrefi Wadie
Dear Obaa Yaa,
During Eid-ul- Adha celebration, I decided to spend the weekend at my boyfriend’s place since we were planning towards our marriage.
To my surprise, what keeps me wide awake, restless and frustrated every single time is that he snores loudly like a generator running on full power, and I genuinely cannot get any rest
At a point, I thought it was just a normal thing, but I have realised it is something he does with ease and doesn’t see anything wrong with it.
When he steps out in the morning, I try to get enough sleep because I may not sleep in the evening.
The most annoying thing is that, he always wants to cuddle me. These two things are a no for me and a red flag.
We are about to get married, what should I do?
Enam, Keta.
Dear Enam,
The snoring and constant cuddling are frustrating, but you don’t have to choose between sleep and closeness.
Start with the snoring: check if it’s worse when he sleeps on his back, cut out alcohol before bed, try nasal strips or a humidifier, and see a doctor if he pauses while breathing.
For quick relief, foam earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones help a lot.
Separate blankets, a bigger bed, or sleeping apart on some nights often makes couples rest well and feel closer overall.
Bring this up before the wedding .Tell him you want to wake up next to him for years to come, but sleep deprivation makes you both miserable.
Test earplugs and side-sleeping this weekend, and if it’s still unbearable, bring in a doctor. Good sleep matters more for your marriage than staying glued together all night.
