As part of activities to celebrate World Wildlife Day 2025, and in pursuit of raising awareness and education of wildlife conservation, the Wildlife Division (WD) of the Forestry Commission has organised a quiz competition among four (4) second cycle schools in Kumawu at the Sekyere Kumawu Assembly Hall in the Ashanti Region.

The four schools were Tweneboah Kodua Senior High School, Bankoman Senior High School, Dadease Agric Senior High School and Bodomase Senior High Technical School.

The five (5) rounds quiz competition involved questions on the Forestry Commission, World Wildlife Day, wildlife conservation, climate change, environmental laws and general knowledge. Round one, involved multiple-choice questions; two, involved open-ended questions where contestants had to provide their own answers; round three, was the “Problem of the Day” segment and contestants answered the same set of questions on a given wildlife species; four, was “True or False” questions; and the fifth round comprised riddles.

The intriguing and competitive quiz saw the Dadease Agric Senior High School emerge first with 71 points at the end of the 5 rounds. Tweneboah Kodua Senior High School, Bodomase Senior High Technical School and Bankoman Senior High School, came second, 59 points; third, 45 points; and fourth, 42 points, respectively.

For their prizes, the winning school took home ¢5,000.00 cash, 40 branded Wildlife Division exercise books and 20 pens, a plaque and Certificate of participation for the two students. The second school, ¢4,000.00 cash, 40 branded Wildlife Division exercise books and 20 pens, a plaque and Certificate of participation for the two students. The third, ¢3,000.00 cash, 40 branded Wildlife Division exercise books and 20 pens, a plaque and Certificate of participation for the two students; and the fourth school received ¢2,000.00 cash, 40 branded Wildlife Division exercise books and 20 pens, and Certificate of Participation for the two students.

Present at the event were the Executive Director of the Wildlife Division, Dr Joseph Boakye; Operations Director, WD, Mr Umaru Farouk Dubuire; Director of Corporate HR, Dr Gordon Sarfo Adu; WD HR Manager, Madam Stella Sankah; and other Managers and Functional Heads of the Forestry Commission.

The students and teachers were elated about the competition, and called for more of such events to educate students on the conservation of wildlife and other natural resources.

The Park Manager of the Bomfobiri Wildlife Sanctuary, Mr Fuseini Damma, opening the quiz programme welcomed all and thanked members for being part of the programme and wished the contestants the best of luck.

The Operations Manager, WD, Mr Enoch Amassa Ashie, giving the closing remarks also thanked the schools for their participation, noting that, he was impressed with their performance, in spite of the short notices given to them of the competition.

He pointed out that sustenance on earth depended on all, both animate and inanimate things, including wild animals, and therefore it was the responsibility of all, even school children, to help protect them and the environment.

He encouraged them to take keen interest in conservation matters; which will enable them take up careers in the wildlife and forest sectors in future, to help preserve the environment and Ghana’s natural resources.