A Rocha Ghana, a Non-Governmental Organisation, on Friday, January 23, 2026, organized a sensitization programme for students in Damongo, West Gonja Municipal, focusing on bush fire management and prevention among young people in the Savannah Region.
The exercise, which drew participants from twelve schools in the municipality, aimed to promote responsible fire use and reduce wildfire risks during the dry season, while fostering environmental stewardship.
The activity employ the “Flames of Duality” signage as a key learning and discussion tool, teaching participants safe fire practices while fostering respect for local traditions and biodiversity.
Participating schools included Yagbon JHS Blocks “A” and “B”, Damongo Girls Model JHS, St. Anne’s Primary Blocks “A” and “B”, Canteen JHS Blocks “A” and “B”, Canteen Primary Block “A”, Murugu RC JHS, Murugu RC Primary, Mognori Primary, and Larabanga JHS Block “A”.
Mr. Isaac Kofi Ntori, Project Officer for A Rocha Ghana and facilitator of the exercise, explained the rationale behind targeting basic school students in the region.
“Basically if you come to Northern Ghana, one of the challenges to the environment is bush fires. They are so rampant and we have been doing so well to collaborate with the Ghana National Fire Service to sensitise the communities using local radio stations and also going to the communities to train them on how to prevent fires,” he said.
He emphasized the importance of engaging young learners, noting that “the menaces that fire causes outweigh the benefits that we get from it, so as an institution that is environmentally conscious, we see it to be important to engage the young ones in fire sensitisation so that they can know when and how to use fire safely.”
Abdul Khalid Hamad, a Form Three student at Yagbon Junior High School, expressed appreciation for the knowledge gained. “I have learnt how bush fires can cause damage to our lives and our fathers’ produce on the farm, and by educating the public on bush burning, enforcement of the laws and public education,” he stated.
Ayamga Abayeta Sabina from Canteen DA Junior High School Block “A” advised the public on the dangers of uncontrolled fires. “We should learn how to control bush fires because somehow it’s dangerous to human life and sometimes it can cause damage to our properties,” she noted.
About 240 students successfully participated in this year’s exercise, with A Rocha Ghana assuring the public of similar programmes in the coming years.
