Ghanaian Conservation Leader Wins a Green Oscars Award

Kumasi, Ghana 4^th May, 2016 - Last Wednesday 27^th April, the Executive Director of SAVE THE FROGS! Ghana, Gilbert Adum won this year’s Green Oscars, a Whitley Fund for Nature Award. Gilbert who was among seven other finalists selected from 130 applicants worldwide is the first Ghanaian to receive this prestigious award in honour of Gilbert’s heroic conservation efforts to save Ghana’s endangered frogs, Her Royal Highness.

The Princess Royal made the presentation worth £35,000 at a ceremony hosted at the Royal Geographical Society, London. Ghana’s High Commissioner to UK/Ireland, His Excellency Victor Emmanuel Smith whose office represented Ghana’s government at the awards ceremony later met with Gilbert in his office.

In his congratulatory message, the High Commissioner says he has ‘long been concerned about how rapidly Ghana’s forests and wildlife are declining but there is hope if as individuals and collectively we would do our best to protect the remaining ecosystems’.

With the Green Oscars Award, Gilbert and his SAVE THE FROGS! Ghana team will continue to conduct cutting-edge research to understand the conservation needs of Ghana’s endangered frogs. They will also develop viable and sustainable alternative livelihoods for local people around western Ghana’s Sui Forest who depend on frogs’ critical habitats.

This will help to secure key habitats not only for frogs but also for chimpanzees and other wildlife. The project will also build vital capacity to conserve these species by training the next generation of biologists in Ghana.

Gilbert’s award continues to receive a lot of international media attention including a recent special feature on BBC’s Focus on Africa. Please follow the links below for more information on the award including Gilbert’s acceptance speech, and interviews in London.

Gilbert In Smock With Other Winners In Group Picture With Sir David Attenborough