By Edward Acquah
Accra, Nov. 11, GNA – A new children’s book aimed at inspiring young Ghanaians to protect the country’s endangered wildlife species has been launched in Accra.
Titled, “Let’s Discover Wildlife in Ghana,” the book is a collaborative educational project produced by Adwinsa Publications Limited with support from Pangolin_Gh and the UK-based charity, Gower St., alongside contributions from A Rocha Ghana and Herp Ghana.
The initiative sought to raise awareness among schoolchildren about Ghana’s rich biodiversity and the urgent need to conserve it.
Printed copies were expected to be distributed free of charge to schools, libraries, and communities across the country to encourage reading and environmental consciousness.
The 48-page book explores 10 endangered species in Ghana, namely, the pangolin, tawny eagle, Togo slippery frog, chimpanzee, hinge-back tortoise, forest elephant, hippopotamus, sea turtle, manatee, and slender-snouted crocodile.
It also highlighted how environmental degradation, particularly deforestation and pollution, threatened their survival.
Speaking at the launch, Ms. Catherine Barr, one of the lead authors, said the book was designed to celebrate Ghana’s wildlife and inspire children to take an interest in protecting nature.
“This book is all about protecting, understanding, and celebrating wildlife in Ghana and showing what communities across the country are doing to help safeguard endangered species,” she said.
She explained that the authors collaborated with local scientists to select the species featured in the book based on their conservation importance and vulnerability.
“The main reason many of these species are disappearing is because their habitats are being destroyed. But we also wanted to highlight the positive efforts that communities in Ghana are making to protect them,” Ms Barr added.
Ms Faith Barcroft, the project’s UK partner, said the free distribution was aimed at promoting environmental education in underserved areas where children had limited access to reading materials.
“There’s such a lack of books in schools, especially about this subject, so we hope to do another print run so that more children can get access to this important book,” she said.
Mr Kwaku Oppong-Amponsah, Chief Executive Officer of Adwinsa Publications Limited, said the project aligned with the company’s mission to promote educational materials that addressed social and environmental issues in Ghana.
“We specialise in publishing books that tackle issues affecting the country, especially children,” he said, adding: “This was a great opportunity to add to our list of books that raise awareness about national concerns.”
The launch marked a significant milestone in environmental education and conservation advocacy in Ghana.
The project is expected to nurture a new generation of conservation-minded citizens and strengthen ongoing efforts to protect the country’s threatened species and natural habitats.
GNA
Edited by Lydia Kukua Asamoah