Two more whales wash ashore the coast of Asanta

Two more whales have been found dead at the coast of Asanta in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region.

According to the Friends of the Nation, a social and environmental advocacy organisation based in the Western Region, the carcasses which washed ashore on October 20 and 21, 2013 represent the third such incident in a month and the 19th in the country within the last four years.

On October 8, 2013 a juvenile whale washed ashore in the same area.

Citizens in the coastal areas in the Western Region are certain there is a link between these unfortunate events and offshore oil and gas expolaration activities which started in 2009.

Mr. Joseph Ebambey, Chief Fisherman of Asanta, told Friends of the Nation that fishermen always call the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) officials in Takoradi and the local District Assembly in Ellembelle District when the whales are found, but they just bury the dead whales - without any explanation.

The last two mammals found on the Asanta coast raise the number to eight dead whales washed ashore in just two months in the country.

The two marine mammals found on October 20 and 21 were already decomposing when they were found, making it very difficult to recognize specific features of the mammals without expert intervention, says Friends of the Nation.

Even though officials from EPA have denied any link between the deaths of the mammals and the oil and gas exploration activities, they are yet to tell the public the actual cause of the dying whales.