Herp Ghana's founder, Dr. Caleb Ofori-Boateng, first arrived in Amedzofe 10 years ago as part of a team of scientists searching for the elusive Togo Slippery Frog. The “Whistling Frog”, which at the time was thought to be extinct, is no ordinary amphibian. It comes from an ancient lineage that diverged from all other amphibians over 80 million years ago, making it as distantly related to other frogs as bats are to the giant panda. It has become a catalyst for a community-driven movement, transforming not only its own fate but the future of an entire region.
In Amedzofe, conservation isn’t just about protecting the land—it’s about creating a future where nature and people thrive together. “People are now aware of the importance of protecting this area. They are seeing the progress and benefits of having a protected area,” says Kwesi Eli Adjato, a resident of Amedzofe.
Herp Ghana dared to redefine the relationship between nature and livelihood, turning a tiny amphibian’s survival into a massive opportunity for sustainable ecotourism, community stewardship, and economic growth.
The Onepone Refuge has become a magnet for nature lovers, scientists, and tourists eager to glimpse the elusive frog. Since opening the ecotourism canopy walk in 2022, the refuge has welcomed almost 50,000 visitors, drawn in by the opportunity to experience the area’s unique biodiversity, including at least 222 plants, 152 birds, 24 mammals, 20 amphibians and 76 butterfly species, many of which are found nowhere else on earth.
“Most of the tourists are Ghanaian. They’ve realized that our country has beautiful natural areas and wildlife worth seeing,” Caleb says, who hopes Ghana can grow into an international tourist destination to rival other African countries.
Young people who once sought employment outside the village now earn sustainable incomes as eco-tour guides. Their deep-rooted knowledge of the landscape means they can educate guests while guiding them through ancient forests and misty mountain trails, making Herp Ghana’s forest canopy walk a valuable conservation tool. Even the government benefits: 5% of ecotourism profits flow directly to the district assembly, further proof that protecting nature can be a powerful economic engine.
Where they were vulnerable to deforestation, the community-managed forests of Onepone are thriving again. Farmers who would clear trees to plant crops are now protecting the forests, supported by agroforestry programs that provide stable sources of income. “Herp Ghana created a conservation area where hunting and tree-cutting are no longer allowed. With trees returning where they once vanished, we now see the benefits of protecting it,” said Kwesi.
Freshwater streams – the lifeline of the forest and the Togo Slippery Frog’s habitat – are no longer drying up, ensuring water security for both wildlife and local people. The once-degraded landscape is now a lush and resilient ecosystem.
A government partnership validated the success of Herp Ghana’s model. Working with Ghana’s Wildlife Division and local authorities, they have ensured conservation is a recognized national priority and a community-led effort. This collaboration reinforces the importance of sustainable land use and habitat protection, and has been formalised in state policy. Herp Ghana is working with the government to replicate the Onepone model in the Ankasa Conservation Area. They hope to expand tourism visits by setting up eco-friendly lodges, guided tours, and immersive cultural experiences, ensuring that both conservation and community benefits continue to grow.
The Togo Slippery Frog was once a delicacy. A survey revealed that 70% of local people ate the species at some point as part of a traditional diet passed down through generations. But tradition evolves when knowledge changes hearts. “Before we came here, it was just food. The local people, from the interviews we conducted, say that their ancestors chose to live here. One of the main reasons was because of the frog,” says Caleb.
Herp Ghana embarked on a robust awareness campaign, sharing the frog’s story – not just as an ingredient for the pot but as an essential guardian of the ecosystem. The message resonated.
People who once hunted the frog for food became its fiercest protectors. The result has been a dramatic shift in people’s attitudes toward the tiny amphibian. Frog consumption has plummeted. Where once it was seen as food, it is now seen as a beacon of hope for a thriving community.
Shifting behaviors is challenging when people lack viable alternatives. Some rivers that serve as frog habitats are also essential water sources for nearby villages’ bathing, drinking, and washing. Telling people to stop using these rivers without an alternative would have been unrealistic and ineffective. “A developing country trying to develop would always use the resources that are available to do it,” Caleb explained.
Herp Ghana didn’t just ask people to change their habits—they provided a solution. A new borehole now provides clean water, reducing the need for people to use the frog’s fragile home. Herp Ghana strengthened local trust by addressing a basic community need and building the connection between conservation and well-being.
That is just one example of Herp Ghana’s approach to working with communities: it’s not about fences and regulations but about changing hearts and minds, and helping people own conservation. They understood this early on and developed an innovative approach: Conservation Evangelism, a movement spreading awareness and passion for nature through religious platforms, reaching every corner of the community.
Conservation is now deeply embedded in community life. Schools have adopted it into their curriculum, ensuring that the next generation sees nature as a shared responsibility. Lessons go beyond textbooks, encouraging students to participate hands-on in amphibian monitoring and habitat restoration work, making conservation real and relevant. Religious leaders have also become key allies in spreading the message by delivering sermons on environmental stewardship that resonate with local values and beliefs.
Community meetings in mosques, churches, and village gatherings now revolve around sustainability. Elders and youth alike embrace their roles as guardians of the land. Traditional leaders encourage discussions on responsible land use, ensuring that conservation is not just an abstract idea but an integrated part of daily life and a communal effort.
Despite the progress, challenges remain. Unemployment still drives some young people toward illegal logging and poaching, and encroachment from nearby communities threatens the integrity of the protected area. Scaling this model requires continued investment, stronger collaboration among communities, and support to ensure conservation provides real alternatives for all. But Herp Ghana has inspired neighboring villages with the Onepone Model. With the planned expansion in Ankasa, more people stand to benefit from ecotourism, which can fund education, forest restoration, and local businesses.
Caleb was drawn to amphibian conservation after realizing the irreversibility of extinction—once a species is lost, it can never be brought back.
“When I think of extinction, I think of losing a loved one. I experienced this as a child when my father died. He was very, very dear to me. And I always hoped that there was something I could do to bring him back. In the same way, when I realized that these organisms were going extinct and nothing was really being done about it, I was really heartbroken. I knew it was my calling. I had to do something about it.”
The Togo Slippery Frog may be tiny, but its impact is profound, proving that even the smallest creatures can inspire monumental change. Its recovery is a testament to the power of intervention. It shows that with dedicated efforts, even critically endangered species can find a path to survival. The frog's resurgence has sparked not only the restoration of ecosystems but also a renewed sense of purpose in the community. The people of Amedzofe who once used the frog as just another resource, now see it as a symbol of resilience and opportunity—a reminder that protecting nature can transform lives.
“People can coexist with wildlife. Our life can be even better, and that is what I’m trying to do,” says Caleb. His determination to protect a forgotten species expanded into a transformative conservation model, reshaping Ghana’s approach to sustainability and ecological restoration. And perhaps, the next time someone thinks of conservation, they won’t just picture lions and elephants. They’ll think of a frog—and the people who saved it.
