Kumasi, Ghana — July 2024
What if you could detect an entire population of elephants without seeing a single animal? That’s exactly
the promise of environmental DNA (eDNA), and SLinCA (Sustainable Livelihood and Nature
Conservation) is making sure Ghana’s future scientists are ready to harness it.
In a vibrant and hands-on workshop held at KNUST’s Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, SLINCA,
in collaboration with Youth Opportunity Network for Growth (YONG) and academic partners, introduced
over 80 young conservationists to one of the most cutting- edge tools in ecological monitoring. For two
days, the Provost Conference Room buzzed with curiosity, collaboration, and coding as participants
explored how to use eDNA to track biodiversity through traces of genetic material left in water and soil.
The training was expertly led by Dr. Kingsly Chuo Beng from the Thünen Institute of Sea Fisheries,
Germany, who was joined by SLinCA’s own Dr. Mohammed Armani and Dr. Kwasi Adu Obirikorang.
Together, they took participants on a journey from sampling techniques in the field to bioinformatics tools
like R Programming Language and Python, decoding how genes can tell the stories of hidden species and
changing ecosystems.
“It felt like science fiction at first,” one participant said, “but by the end of the workshop, we were
running real analyses that could one day help protect endangered species in Ghana.” More than just
theory, the workshop emphasized application on how eDNA can guide policies, monitor endangered
species, and engage communities in conservation. Dr. Beng also launched a mentorship program,
promising to support students with ongoing research, publication advice, and even grant writing
assistance.
As SLinCA continues to bridge science with sustainability, this workshop marked more than a training, it
was a spark of innovation, lighting a path for a new generation of environmental stewards equipped with
data, passion, and a vision for the future.