For instance, the whistling frog (Conraua derooi), also known as the Togo slippery frog, found along the Ghana-Togo border is now confined to the area.

The species prefer clean and fast-running water bodies like waterfalls and rocky streams to live in.

Unlike typical frogs, it grows from tadpole to adulthood without leaving the water.

 

 

Diverging from all other amphibians more than 80 million years ago, the global population of the species is less than 250 and classified as critically endangered due to its small and declining population and restricted range.

“Human activities, such as logging, agriculture expansion and pollution, have led to habitat loss while a decrease in water quality is affecting the frog’s reproduction success,” said the founder of biodiversity conservation group, Herp Conservation Ghana (Herp-Ghana), Dr Caleb Ofori-Boateng.

“We protect threatened animals and trees through forest protection, restoration and improvement of community livelihoods,” he told the  Daily Graphic at Kpoeta-Ashanti last Friday.

This was during a community engagement with the district assembly on a project to protect the rare plant and animal species in the area.

 

 

 

Trafficked animals

Meanwhile, Dr Ofori-Boateng said two butterfly species that are completely new to science have been found in the enclave while viable populations of the white-bellied pangolin (Phataginus tricuspis), which is considered one of the most trafficked animals in the world, is in the forests in Kpoeta and its enclave.

Further, he revealed that one tree species, Brugmansia arborea, also known as the Angel’s Trumpet, considered already extinct in the wild by the International Union for the

Conservation of Nature (IUCN), is now appearing in Kpoeta, according to the latest research conducted in collaboration with the Forestry Research Institute of Ghana.

Dr Ofori-Boateng said the USD 500,000 nature conservation and ecotourism project would take off in early August and end in 36 months.

“The project would be carried out in collaboration with the CSIR-Forestry Research Institute of Ghana, Ho West District Assembly, and the Ghana Tourism Authority,” he added.

He said the eco-tourism aspects of the project would involve the provision of Zipline, Nepalese bridges, river tubing and other facilities at the Kpoeta waterfalls.

“Ecotourism is one of the tools we are using to achieve the twin goal of biodiversity conservation and livelihood improvement,” he explained.

The founder of Herp-Ghana said the project would also be extended to nearby Holuta, which is also in the Ho West District, and Logba-Tota in the Afadzato South District.

Job creation

He thanked the funding partners -Rainforest Trust, Foundation Franklinia, Hans Wilsdorf Audemars-Watkins and Whitley Fund for Nature- for their support.

Dr Ofori-Boateng said the project would generate at least 50 direct jobs and 200 indirect employments along the tourism value chain.

For his part, the Ho West District Chief Executive (DCE), Ernest Victor Apau, said the nature conservation project held massive fortunes for the area.

He entreated the people of Kpoeta to remain united and support the project in various ways to ensure its timely completion.

“This also means we must stay united all the time,” the DCE added.

Mr Apau urged the people to maintain a high standard of cleanliness to enrich the enclave’s rich tourism potential.

Kpoeta is a traditional area comprised of four communities – Kpoeta-Ashanti, Kpoeta Achem, Kpoeta-Kpodzi and Kpoeta-Adorfe.

They say complaints have been met with deaf ears from authorities in the District.

The residents, mostly cocoa farmers, have no access to potable water, a situation forcing the, about 850 people, to compete with animals for access to stagnated water.

The contaminated water mostly muddy is put to domestic use without proper treatment; a health problem waiting to happen.

Some womenfolk who had come to fetch the water for use have expressed their misgivings about the seeming silence over the issue despite making several complaints to authorities in the area about their plight.

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“We are really suffering and need government to come to our aid as quickly as possible,” the woman lamented.

Worse is the inaccessibility of routes to clinics located in other surrounding communities.

Mr Moses Koblavi another resident indicates that the sick are mostly carried across a river in order to access healthcare. In some cases, they don’t make it.

“Some women die on the way and pregnant women are mostly affected” he lamented

Similar sentiments were expressed by the residents who say the situation is worse for pregnant women in labour.

Mr Koblavi revealed that though a bridge was being constructed for the area, the project has stalled.

“The situation is also affecting education in Laboanu. There is no guaranteed safety for pupils who have to cross this water daily in order to access education” he said.

Many are worried that furthering their education may just be the worst of challenges as they may have to continue crossing in order to access schools in other communities, a situation which may be a disincentive to student s in the area.

The MCE for the area, John Thusun who visited the area promised that something urgent would be done about the situation.