A Rocha Ghana, in partnership with the Leverhulme Centre for Wildfires and the Centre for wildfires, Environment and Society at King’s College London, has unveiled a striking mural artwork billboard in Damongo to raise awareness on equitable fire management in Northern Ghana.
The unveiling ceremony, held at the entrance of Damongo on Thursday, June 26, 2025, was supported by officers from the Ghana National Fire Service and the Forestry Commission. The billboard, titled “Flames of Duality”, is a powerful advocacy tool meant to spark conversations and promote environmentally sustainable practices across the Northern Savannah landscape.
The initiative is part of a broader project co-led by Adriana Ford, Godwin Evenyo Dzekoto, Rahina Sidiki Alare, Kate Schreckenberg, and Danny Anetang. Running from September 2024 to June 2025. The project received funding from the King’s College London AHRC Impact Accelerator Award, with additional support from the Leverhulme Centre for Wildfires, Environment and Society.
Speaking to the media before the unveiling, Mr. Godwin Evenyo Dzekoto, Northern Sector Manager for A Rocha Ghana, emphasized the dual nature of fire in the region. “We know fires are very important to our livelihoods and ecosystem in Northern Ghana,” he said. “Fires can be good servants but also dangerous masters. This billboard provides a holistic picture of how fires are perceived and used across the landscape.”
He highlighted the importance of inclusive dialogue in fire-related decision-making. “Often, the most vulnerable and marginalized groups are left out of these conversations, yet they are the most affected by fire,” he added. “This advocacy tool challenges us to consider fire from a landscape perspective, urging all users to be mindful of their actions and their impact on the environment, wildlife, and livelihoods.”
Artist Daniel Kweku Anetang, who created the mural, explained that the concept emerged from a participatory workshop held in 2024 on equitable fire management. The artwork captures diverse fire-related practices — both beneficial and harmful — across communities in Northern Ghana.
“The mural shows a fireman battling flames, an elderly woman cleaning her compound with fire, a farmer using fire belts to protect his crops, and another woman frying gari. It also illustrates herdsmen using fire to warm their cattle, and a forest scene where fire has devastated wildlife habitats,” Anetang explained. “It speaks to the multiple roles fire plays in our lives — culturally, economically, and ecologically.”
The “Flames of Duality” billboard stands as a bold visual reminder of the complex relationship between fire and the people of Northern Ghana, calling for responsible and inclusive fire management practices that protect both lives and the landscape.
Source: Padfm.com.gh/Kumatey Gorden/0243531604
