A severe forest fire has destroyed much of the vegetation on Ghana’s tallest mountain, Afadjato, disrupting tourism in the scenic Liati-Wote community at its base. The fire, which lasted three days, also ravaged cocoa, coffee, and food crop farms, leaving residents devastated. Wildlife such as antelopes, tortoises, and butterflies perished in the flames, leaving the once-lush mountain barren and charred.
The community’s chief, Togbe Kordadza V, blamed the disaster on careless charcoal burning, exacerbated by harmattan winds. While tourism activities have resumed, the incident threatens Liati-Wote’s rising popularity, which saw 8,834 tourists visit in 2024. Challenges like water shortages and poor roads add to the community’s woes. To prevent future disasters, locals are considering forming a vigilante group to monitor the mountain.
