Elephants invasion on farms halt socio-economic activities

Adwoafua (W/R), Oct. 23, GNA - Elephants have invaded Adwoafua, a farming community in the Western Region destroying people's farms. For the past one month, farming activities had been severely hampered, while economic and other social activities have virtually come to a halt. Farmers in the area have refused to go to their farms for fear of their lives.

Mr Ofori Amanfo District Wildlife Officer in-charge of the Bia National Park, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Friday that large tract of the reserve, which had been kept for animal habitation had been depleted through the activities of farmers and illegal chain-saw operators.

This development, he said, had compelled the elephants to move outside the reserve whenever they are hungry. Fermented cocoa beans and other farm crops, which the farmers depend on for their survival, had also been destroyed completely while school children had refused to attend classes because of the invasion of the animals.

Mr Amanfo said all efforts by the inhabitants to bring the situation under control had proven unsuccessful. Farm produce are getting rotten.

He said thieves had also taken advantage of the situation to steal farm produce and other implements. The community leaders in the area have therefore appealed to the Ministry of Interior to come into their aid.