By Anthony Adongo Apubeo
Yagzore (U/E), Nov. 22, GNA – The Forum for Natural Regeneration (FONAR), an environmentally focused organisation, has called for greater recognition and empowerment of children as powerful allies in the fight against bushfires and the protection of the environment.
Mr Sumaila Seidu Saaka, the Executive Director of FONAR, who made the call, noted that climate change had intensified bushfire risks, especially in Northern Ghana, and underscored the critical role children played as agents of change.
Mr Saaka was speaking at the launch of a School Kids Bushfire Awareness Campaign at the Yagzore Primary School in the Talensi District, as part of efforts to equip children to lead the fight against bushfires at the community level.
The campaign, on the theme: “Bushfire Prevention in a Changing Climate: Children as Effective Allies”, forms part of FONAR’s “Regreening Communities through School Kids FMNR Eco-Clubs” project, funded by the Heidehof Foundation of Germany and the Awaken Trees Foundation of Austria.
Under the project, teachers and eco-club members have been trained in the concepts of Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) and are engaging communities on environmental issues such as uncontrolled bushfires, deforestation and unsustainable farming practices.
The initiative will be implemented in partnership with the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) and the Ghana Education Service (GES) in 10 basic schools in the district as contribution towards 2025/2026 National Based Bushfire Awareness Campaign on the theme, “The role of stakeholders in restoring Ghana’s Environment through sustainable practices”.
The campaign aims to build a generation of environmentally conscious “Eco-Warriors,” strengthening community resilience to climate change and promoting responsible fire practices across the Talensi District.
Mr Saaka explained that climate change was contributing to more frequent and intense bushfires in the northern savannah regions, where long dry seasons, rising temperatures and human activities combined to heighten fire risks.
He argued that involving children in bushfire prevention efforts had become critical, as they constituted nearly half of the country’s population and played an important role in transferring knowledge to households and communities.
He noted that empowering children with knowledge on fire safety, prevention and control could significantly reduce the incidence of destructive fires.
“FONAR recognises children as equal stakeholders and key agents of change in addressing the climate and environmental degradation crisis. We believe that this bushfire awareness campaign can influence community-level bushfire prevention and control activities as children transfer their knowledge and skills to their families,” he said.
Mr Saaka expressed concern that annual uncontrolled bushfires continued to undermine environmental restoration efforts and urged government to integrate bushfire education into the school curriculum, especially in the five northern regions.
He also advocated a review of Ghana’s Bushfire Control and Prevention Law (PNDCL 229 of 1990), arguing that the current legislation tended to criminalise traditional fire use without promoting safe burning practices, often resulting in unregulated fires.
“The law should be reviewed to reflect the needs of rural farming communities, facilitate the involvement of traditional authorities and promote proper use of fire. At the same time, it should make provision for preventing unwanted fires and managing their negative impacts, such as effects on air quality.
“The best bushfire management approach is to introduce a system of incentives, sanctions, education and strong government–community partnerships that encourage responsible fire use,” he said.
While commending the GNFS and GES for supporting the campaign since 2022, the Executive Director further appealed to District Assemblies to enact and enforce bushfire by-laws in line with national requirements.
Divisional Officer II Musah Mohammed, Upper East Regional Rural Fires Coordinator of the GNFS, who took the pupils through the causes, effects, control and prevention of fires, advised them to serve as ambassadors against bushfires in their communities.
In a speech read on her behalf, Madam Christiana Ayinezoya Azure, the Talensi District Director of GES, commended FONAR and its partners for empowering children to contribute to bushfire prevention and pledged the directorate’s support for the success of the campaign.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali/Christian Akorlie