Haruna Acheriga Sumaila
Ghana is home to many freshwater turtle species, among them are the critically endangered C. Elegans., Trionyx triunguis, C. senegalensis, Pelomedusa sp., and Pelusios castaneus (Gbewaa et al., 2021). Freshwater turtles are integral components of the ecological quality of world ecosystems and are regarded as biological indicators of healthy ecological systems. In spite of this, the species is facing serious threat and is highest among extinction risk of known vertebrate species (Stanford et al., 2020). The main driving force for their population decline has been habitat loss and trade for pets and medicine. The situation requires urgent intervention to avert the risk extinction given the slow development of the species. Monitoring and conservation for the species are complicated by lack of population, ecological data, and existential threats that critically underpin management decisions and conservation strategies. In West Africa and in Ghana, studies on freshwater turtles had mainly focused on taxonomy and distribution (e.g., Hoogmoed 1980; Bombi et al.2011; Segniagbeto et al. 2014 and Gbewaa et al 2020) and there are no studies on hunting and trade of freshwater turtle.
Results from our preliminary surveys in communities around Bolgatanga, in the Upper East of Ghana, revealed severe elicit turtle trading markets, where wild live turtles are sold for use in traditional medicine and are trafficked across the border to neighbouring Burkina Faso. It is against this background that we are undertaking this study with main aim of comprehensively investigating freshwater turtle trade, assessing population distribution and carrying out community education on freshwater turtle in northern Ghana to engender community support for the conservation of the Critically Endangered (C. elegans) and (Trionyx triunguis) in northern Ghana, through the following specific objectives: (1) Carrying out a comprehensive survey of wild live freshwater turtle trade in northern Ghana. (2) Undertake ecological field survey of freshwater turtle (3) carry out community engagement and education to engender support for freshwater turtle Conservation focusing on C. Elegans., Trionyx triunguis and (4) Holding workshops for key stakeholders to discuss and implement strategies to curb turtle trading menace in the area.