Zoo Boss wants harsher punishment for ‘stubborn’ wildlife hunters

DR. MEYIR Yiryele Ziekah, the Kumasi Zoo Manager, has called for severe punishment for recalcitrant hunters that will flout the four-month state ban on hunting and capturing of wildlife.

The ban on hunting and capturing of wildlife, which is a annual ritual in the country, starts from August 1 to December 1, and it is geared towards replenishing the wildlife population in the country.

According to him, the current monetary fine and ‘light’ sentence, usually given by the law courts to people that are found culpable of breaking the hunting ban, is not deterrent enough.

In this regard, Dr. Yiryele Ziekah has appealed to the law courts to immediately consider increasing the punishment that would be meted out to people that would be found guilty for breaking the hunting ban.

He lamented that some hunters continue to break the laws with impunity annually and he believes that these ‘stubborn’ and recalcitrant hunters would behave well if severe punishment is introduced.

The Kumasi Zoo Manager was speaking during a sensitization programme on the Ban of Hunting and Capturing of Wild Animals also called (Closed Season), at the Center for National Culture in Kumasi.

The Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission in Kumasi Zoo teamed up with the Game Traders Association to organize the event. It was graced by bush meat dealers, security agencies and other stakeholders.

George Wireko-Brobby, a member of the Forestry Commission of Ghana, said mankind depends heavily on the forest and wildlife for survival so it should be jealously protected by all, especially traditional leaders.

“I want to take this opportunity to respectfully appeal to our traditional leaders and chiefs to revive the innovative taboos, totemic systems and sacred grooves that might contribute to wildlife conservation to help us preserve wildlife resources for future generations”.

Mr. Wireko-Brobby, who is also the Board Chairman of Game Traders Association, a group that helps and train its members in the breeding of wildlife for commercial purposes, noted that the forest and wildlife are crucial for the sustainability of mankind.

He said “Forestry plays a significant role in the provision of food, fuel, clothing, shelter, furniture, natural medicine, potable water supply resources, bush meat and land for agriculture for the rural communities”, reiterating that the forest and wildlife should be protected.

Mr. Wireko-Brobby argued that “the annual ban on Hunting and Capturing of Wildlife, which takes effect from August 1 to December 1, is needed as it helps to regulate the decline of wildlife resources in the country and ensure its sustainable use”.