Bats invade Bia District in W/R

Bats from Ivory Coast have invaded the Bia West District in the Western Region.

The District, which is an area noted for cocoa production, shares a border with villages in Ivory Coast,

The influx of the bats is causing a nuisance to the people, with the most affected areas being Oseikojokrom, Yamatwa and Pillar One in the region.

Mr Kwabena Tweneboah-Kodua, the District Chief Executive (DCE), told a general meeting held by the Western Regional Coordinating Council at Sekondi that the bats invaded the District after Ivory Coast embarked on a mass spraying exercise to ward them [bats] off the country.

Mr Tweneboah-Kodua called on government to take measures to address the situation.

He said though the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) had been informed about the challenge, the timely intervention of government will help solve the problem.

This is not the first time bats have invaded a particular region in the country.

Students and teachers of the Roman Catholic Basic School in Juapong in the North Tongu District of the Volta Region have been living in fear after the school was invaded by bats.

Though not proven to be the Ebola-transmitting species, the bats were reportedly impeding teaching and learning in the school.

Bats are regarded as one of the mammals that can transmit the Ebola disease, which has killed thousands in West Africa.