Mr Sumaila Seidu Saaka, the Executive Director of the Forum for Natural Regeneration (FONAR), has called on government to urgently review Ghana’s Bushfire Control and Prevention Law, PNDCL 229 of 1990, to reflect the needs of rural communities.
Speaking at the launch of a School Kids Bushfire Awareness Campaign at the Yagzore Primary School in the Talensi District, Mr Saaka described the law as outdated and incapable of addressing the growing complexity of bushfires under changing climate conditions.
Mr Saaka said the current law criminalised traditional fire use for land and natural resource management instead of promoting safe and controlled burning practices.
This, he noted, often led to more destructive and unregulated fires, as many community members deliberately avoid supervising fires they set for fear of punishment.
“The law appears to criminalise traditional fire use rather than promote safe and effective burning. People will set what they perceive as needed fires but leave them unattended so they cannot be held responsible.
“It must be reviewed to reflect the needs of rural farming communities, facilitate the involvement of traditional authorities, and ensure responsible fire management,” he said.
He stressed that bushfire prevention efforts must evolve alongside climate change, which has increased the frequency and intensity of fires, particularly in the five northern savannah regions.
As such, the law must incorporate community realities, outline clear guidelines for safe fire use, and introduce systems of incentives, sanctions, education and government–community partnerships in order to achieve the needed impact, he added.
Beyond the national legislation, Mr Saaka urged District Assemblies to enact and enforce by-laws to strengthen bushfire control at the local 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 campaign 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 a contribution towards the 2025/2026 National 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.
FONAR and its partners have been implementing the bushfire prevention campaign since 2022, aiming to equip schoolchildren with the knowledge and skills needed to prevent bushfires, protect the environment and build community resilience against climate change.
Mr Saaka said children, who make up nearly half of Ghana’s population according to data from the 2021 Population and Housing Census, can serve as powerful agents of change by transferring bushfire safety knowledge from their classrooms to their homes and communities.
“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.
