The Mole National Park (MNP), a wildlife protected area within the Savannah Region, has partnered with iValley Ghana, the Savannah Regional Directorate of the Ghana Education Service; and Office of the Member of Parliament (MP) for Damongo Constituency, Honourable Samuel A. Jinapor, to organize the maiden edition of an inter-schools’ “What Do You Know?” competition on Wildlife and Forest Conservation.
The quiz program , organised for second cycle schools in the Region, was supported by the Ghana Landscape Restoration and Small-Scale Mining Project (GLRSSMP) . It was held to stimulate students’ interest in natural resource conservation and also sensitize the public. The theme of the program was “Conservation for a Better Future”.
The event kicked off with a welcome address by the Deputy Park Manager, Mr. Bona Kyiire. He highlighted on the crucial need to protect endangered species like the elephants in the Park. He also mentioned some activities carried out by the Park which included the establishment of 15 wildlife clubs in basic schools in communities around the Park and transporting over 1000 pupils from different schools to visit the Park. His message was a wake-up call for everyone to help sustain the ecosystem.
The Human Resource Manager for the West Gonja Municipal Assembly, Mr. Mahama Abdulai, stood in for the program’s Guest of Honour, Hon. Musah Karim Kusubari, MCE for the West Gonja Municipal Assembly. Mr. Mahama appreciated the efforts of the partners and Park officials in organizing such an impactful program. He said the initiative would help educate the pupils on the essence of wildlife conservation and stimulate appreciation for forest reserves.
He ended his speech by noting that “we can all work together to make this an annual event that can be replicated for the Junior High Schools in the Municipality and even the Savannah Region as a whole.”
The participants of the competition were St. Anne’s Girls Senior High School (SAGISS); Damongo Senior High School (DASS), and Ndewura Jakpa Secondary Technical School (NDESCO). The schools performed excellently well, exhibiting their in-depth researches and profound interest in everything relating to Wildlife Conservation. The chants and excitements from their mates and teachers were overwhelming. The competition ended with DASS emerging as the winner, with SAGISS and NDESCO taking second and third positions respectively.
The event ended on a very successful note, giving guests not just a show, but some education on the importance of the conservation of forests and wildlife species, as well as climate change.
