A driver has been spotted transporting what are alleged to be lions through the streets of Accra in a wooden crate mounted on the back of a vehicle, in footage that has raised serious concerns about wildlife trafficking and animal welfare in Ghana.
The footage shows the large wooden crate being conveyed along a busy highway, with a large animal visible through the slats of the crate as regular traffic moves alongside it.
The incident raises urgent questions about the legal status of the animals being transported, the permits under which the movement was authorised, and the conditions in which the animals were being kept during transit.
The possession and transportation of lions and other protected wildlife in Ghana is regulated under the Wildlife Conservation Regulations, and requires specific authorisation from the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission.
Unauthorised possession or trafficking of protected species carries criminal penalties under Ghanaian law.
Watch the video HERE.
