Professor Roger Kanton, lead advocate for the Fight Against Donkey Extinction Project, has called on Ghana’s government to impose an immediate ban on the illegal trade of donkey hides, warning of the species’ rapid decline.
Addressing Parliament’s Select Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Cocoa Affairs, Prof. Kanton stressed the need for legal enforcement to curb the trade, which threatens donkey populations across Africa. “We need clarity on the legal framework to empower law enforcement,” he said, citing international agreements, including a 2014 Eco-Wise veterinary resolution endorsed by Ghana’s Chief Director and an African Union-backed document from DACA, a continental donkey protection group.
“If this trade continues unchecked, donkeys will face extinction,” he warned, urging swift government action. While withholding full details of the supporting documents, Prof. Kanton emphasized that existing legal justifications for a ban are already in place.
The appeal comes as Ghana faces growing pressure to align with regional conservation efforts and enforce stricter wildlife trade regulations under President Mahama’s administration.
