By Radia Issah
An outreach team from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research of the Forestry Research Institute of Ghana (CSIR – FORIG) has taken its climate change awareness campaign to Ramseyer Technical Institute in the Ashanti region, aiming to equip students with knowledge on environmental protection and the dangers of illegal mining activities, popularly known as galamsey.
The initiative, organised under the CSIR-FORIG environmental outreach programme, forms part of efforts to promote sustainable environmental practices at the grassroots level. It was led by the Head of the Forest and Climate Change Division at the Forestry Research Institute of Ghana, Dr. Reginald Tang Guuroh, with support from Dr. Stella Britwum Acquah and Akwasi Duah Gyamfi.
Speaking during the engagement, Dr. Guuroh urged students to take environmental issues seriously and become advocates for change within their communities.
“We expect the students to practice what we teach them and also pass on the message to others,” he said, stressing the need for collective action to reduce the impact of climate change.
The programme combined classroom lessons with practical field activities, including a tree-planting exercise, to reinforce learning and encourage long-term environmental responsibility.
Dr. Stella Britwum Acquah noted that the team identified gaps in students’ understanding of climate change at the start of the engagement.
“Many could mention issues like rising temperatures and erratic rainfall, but their overall understanding was limited,” she explained.
She said the outreach helped bridge this gap by introducing students to sustainable practices and the importance of protecting natural resources.
Students who participated in the programme described it as impactful, saying it had deepened their understanding of environmental conservation.
“We have learned that protecting the environment also protects us, so we must take care of our forests,” said Selina Bigome, a student.
The CSIR team hopes the initiative will inspire students to adopt environmentally responsible behaviours and serve as ambassadors for climate action in their communities.
