The Leverhulme Centre of Wildfires, Environment and Society at King’s College London in collaboration with A Rocha Ghana, a Ghanaian civil society organisation has unveiled a mural artwork billboard at the entrance of Damongo – approaching from Tamale, just before the 155 Armored Regiment barracks on the right-hand side on Friday, 27th June 2025.
The billboard is meant to promote equitable and environmental sustainability in Northern Ghana Savannah landscapes. The project, co-led by Adriana Ford, Godwin Evenyo Dzekoto, Rahina Sidiki Alare, Kate Schreckenberg and Danny Anetang, ran from September 2024 to June 2025, funded by a KCL AHRC Impact Accelerator Award, with additional financial support from the Leverhulme Centre for Wildfires, Environment and Society.
The billboard was unveiled by Mr. Godwin Evenyo Dzekoto the Northern Sector Manager for A Rocha Ghana, with support from the West Gonja Municipal Fire Commander ADO1 Philip Okumah, a rep from the Ghana Forestry Commission Mr Abudu Umar who is a Chief Resource Guard stationed in Damongo among others.
Speaking to Spear FM after the unveiling ceremony, Mr Godwin Evenyo said The project aimed to integrate traditional fire knowledge with Western knowledge, fostering culturally sensitive and holistic approaches to wildfire management.
According to Mr Godwin, the project involved a participatory workshop to explore new ways of understanding and managing fires, particularly by engaging with migrants and herders whose voices are often excluded from community-based fire management projects and formal policies.
Mr Godwin added that the workshop brought together diverse stakeholders from academia, government, NGOs, traditional authorities, private organisations, and local communities to brainstorm on their perception about fire and how to manage fires equitably.
Mr. Godwin said the billboard will go along way to create awareness and advocate for equitable fire management.
(Cue Audio of Mr Godwin Evenyo Dzekoto on Equitable Fire Management Billboard)
Speaking to Spear FM, the artist who designed the billboard Mr Daniel Kweku Anetang explaining how he came out with the concept said the participatory drawing from stakeholders who participated in the workshop on equitable fire management last year informed the creation of a mural artwork billboard, titled ‘Flames of Duality’, capturing both the risks and customary practices associated with fire use.
(Cue Audio of Mr Daniel Kweku Anetang the artist who designed the the “Flames of Duality” billboard)
