Ban on hunting comes into effect

Accra, July 31, GNA - The annual ban on hunting, otherwise known as the close season, begins on Friday, August 1, 2008, a statement from the Wildlife Division of the Ghana Forestry Commission said on Thursday. The statement signed by Mrs. Vivian Nuhu, Public Affairs Director of the Division, called on hunters to observe the close season, which would last until December 1, 2008.

It noted that during the four-month period, hunters were allowed to hunt only grasscutter, but with licence. It said the essence was to offer respite for wild animals such as duikers, royal antelopes, bush pigs and others which served as bulk of sources of bush meat. "Research has shown that apart from the grasscutter, all the other sources of bush meat breed within the period of August 1 and December 1 every year.

"Besides as the rains have encouraged growth of fresh vegetation and made food supply abundant, the young ones can be successfully recruited into the next generation without interference from hunters." The statement warned that non-observation of the close season was punishable by law.

It therefore appealed to the public to desist from patronising bush meat other than grasscutter during the fourth-month close season and to report persons who breached the season to the Wildlife Division. The statement also called on the police to assist the Commission by arresting and prosecuting recalcitrant hunters and sellers of bush meat other than grasscutter during the period.