The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has recorded a significant decline in bushfire incidents, with a 62.8% reduction in cases between January and August 2025 and the same period in 2026. According to Chief Fire Officer Daniella Mawusi Ntow Sarpong, the country reported 631 bushfire cases in 2025, compared to 235 cases in 2026. This achievement is attributed to sustained collaboration among stakeholders.
The GNFS has launched its 2026/27 National Anti-Bushfire Campaign in Atebubu, Bono East Region, to build on the gains made so far. The campaign, themed "Bushfire Prevention: A Collective Action for Sustainable Environmental Development and a Greener Ghana," aims to reach all 16 regions of the country. The initiative includes community durbars, school outreach programs, radio sensitization drives, and the creation of fire belts around vulnerable farmland.
The launch event was attended by Bono East Regional Minister Francis Owusu Antwi, who emphasized the damage caused by bushfires to the environment and reaffirmed the government's commitment to environmental protection. Traditional leaders, including the Omanhene of the Atebubu Traditional Area, Ohempon Dr Yeboah Asiamah, also supported the campaign and cautioned against deliberately setting bushfires.
Bushfires remain a significant threat to farmland, forest cover, and rural livelihoods in Ghana, particularly in savannah and transition zones. A sustained reduction in incidents would result in fewer destroyed farms, less pressure on firefighting resources, and reduced risk to communities living near forest reserves and grasslands.
The GNFS plans to equip community fire volunteers with better tools to enable them to act as first responders when fires break out in their localities. The service also intends to extend the campaign to communities across all 16 regions, with planned activities including community durbars, school programs, and radio outreach.
Stakeholders at the Atebubu event appealed to the public and corporate organizations for logistical support and protective gear to help firefighters carry out their work. The campaign's success will depend on collective action from everyone, including government agencies, traditional leaders, and the general public.
The GNFS's efforts to prevent bushfires are crucial, especially during the dry season. With the campaign officially launched in Atebubu, the service is expected to continue its drive across the country, with community durbars, school programs, and radio outreach being part of the broader push through the dry season.
Key points
- The Ghana National Fire Service has recorded a 62.8% reduction in bushfire cases between January and August 2025 and the same period in 2026.
- The GNFS has launched a nationwide campaign to prevent bushfires during the dry season, themed "Bushfire Prevention: A Collective Action for Sustainable Environmental Development and a Greener Ghana."
- The campaign aims to reach all 16 regions of the country, with planned activities including community durbars, school outreach programs, and radio sensitization drives.
