Sunyani (B/A), July 25, GNA - The Brong-Ahafo Regional Office of the Forest Commission at the weekend organised a quiz competition in Sunyani among active wildfire clubs in five second cycle institutions located in forest-fire prone areas in the region. The schools were Acherensua Secondary School, Atebubu Secondary School, Sacred Heart Secondary School, Kintampo Secondary School and Dormaa Secondary School.

The participants were taken through selected questions from protection and management of wildfire, the environment, agriculture and the weather.

Kintampo emerged winners with 29 points and had as their prize received 2 million cedis and were followed by Sacred Heart, who bagged 28 points and received 1.6 million cedis.

Acherensua secured 17 points, followed by Dormaa with 15 points and Atebubu 12 points.

They received 1.2 million, 800,000 and 600,000 cedis respectively.

Mr. Emmanuel Gay Kumah Dogbe, Regional Forestry Manager, explained that the Forestry Commission was implementing the wildfire management project in the transitional zone as one of interventions to address deforestation in the country.

He said the project aimed at developing and implementing effective strategies and programmes to prevent and control wildfires in fire prone forest areas with active local community participation.

"The quiz competition targeted the implementation of public awareness, knowledge and warning systems for fire risks and hazards", he added.

Mr. Dogbe said in line with the project, a comprehensive fire prevention educational programme had been designed targeting the general public, local communities and school children hence the establishment of wildfire clubs to serve as catalyst to facilitate the implementation of the project.

He explained that the wildfire clubs aimed at helping young Ghanaians to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes they needed to help educate and raise awareness on wildfire prevention in the communities and to assist communities to embark on tree planting to prevent bushfires.