Cape three points: The West African Primate Conservation Action (WAPCA) will observe this year's Mangabey Awareness Day (MAD) to highlight the need to protect the Cape Three Points Forest Reserve from destruction. The event, scheduled for August 1, 2026, at Cape Three Points in the Ahanta West Municipality of the Western Region, is themed 'Healthy Forests, Healthy Communities: Protecting Our Shared Future.'
According to Ghana News Agency, a statement signed by Madam Nuria Badiella, Research and Education Coordinator at WAPCA, indicated that the organisation, in collaboration with the Cape Three Points-Princess Town Community Resource Management Area (CREMA) and other conservation partners, will organise sporting activities, cultural education, and dialogue sessions as part of the celebration. The event is supported by Re:wild Primate Action Fund, Limelight Foundation, Heidelberg Zoo, Barcelona Zoo, the Embassy of Spain in Ghana through AECID-Spanish Cooperation, Don Simon, the European Union Delegation to Ghana, Hen Mpoano, and Twellium Ghana Limited.
The statement highlighted that the celebration comes at a critical time for the Cape Three Points landscape, where illegal mining, logging, hunting, and other unsustainable land-use practices continue to threaten forests, wildlife, and water resources. It noted the increasing importance of protecting biodiversity, not only for endangered species but also for the resilience and well-being of communities living around the Cape Three Points landscape.
'We recognise the power of sport to unite people, and so this provides a unique opportunity to bring communities together, engage young people, and create space for conversations about the importance of protecting forests, wildlife, and the natural resources that sustain local livelihoods,' the statement said.
According to the statement, about 360 invited participants, including community members, young people, students, traditional authorities, government institutions, and conservation organisations, are expected to attend the celebration. Additional members of surrounding communities are also expected to join the activities, making the event a broader celebration of conservation and community action.
The programme will combine conservation education, culture, and action through a community parade, school drama performances, a panel discussion on how ecotourism can support conservation, a community clean-up exercise, and a football championship final, among other activities.
Mangabey Awareness Day is WAPCA's flagship annual conservation awareness campaign, celebrated on August 1 every year to raise awareness about the white-naped mangabey, one of West Africa's most endangered primates, and other threatened species, while promoting the conservation of forests that sustain wildlife and local communities. This year's event seeks to strengthen collaboration among the Cape Three Points CREMA, government agencies, conservation organisations, local communities, and other stakeholders working to safeguard the Cape Three Points Forest Reserve.
Through education, sports, culture, and community engagement, Mangabey Awareness Day promotes collective action towards healthy forests, resilient communities, and a sustainable future for generations to come.