Amanda Kporwofa believes education is the strongest tool in fighting deforestation and climate change, especially since the lack of awareness is one of the major drivers of environmental destruction. Ghana is projected to lose much of its forest cover within the next few decades if current trends continue. This reality raises an important question: What happens if today’s children and adolescents grow up without understanding the consequences of deforestation? Many of them may one day face decisions about activities such as illegal mining, logging, or unsustainable farming.

This concern inspired Amanda to create ATi. Games provide a powerful way to communicate complex issues in a way that is fun, memorable, and accessible to young people. Amanda’s goal is to reach children early, helping them understand the importance of protecting forests and natural resources so they can make responsible decisions in the future.

ATi is an educational sustainability board and mobile game developed by Amanda Kporwofa through EcoGames Foundation to raise awareness about deforestation and environmental protection. The game was created in response to the rapid loss of Ghana’s forests and the growing environmental threats caused by illegal mining, excessive logging, and unsustainable farming practices, which endanger ecosystems, water sources, and food security.

ATi is designed for people aged six and above and can be played by two to four players. Players move along a numbered pathway by rolling dice and encounter spaces representing environmental actions and consequences. Positive environmental behaviors, such as planting trees or practicing agroforestry, allow players to move forward, while harmful activities like illegal logging or forest fires move players backward or delay progress.

A key feature of the game is its strong cultural grounding in the Ghanaian context. The environmental challenges represented in the game reflect the real experiences of Ghanaian communities, making the lessons familiar and relatable to players. Some characters in the game were named after real Ghanaian names like “Dzifa,” “Asibi,” “Atta,” and “Mr. & Mrs. Ayi.” Communities were modeled after real Ghanaian communities, including Kete-Krachi, while in-game forests are named after actual ecological sites like Achimota and Awudua. By embedding culture into gameplay, ATi moves beyond generic environmental education and instead presents sustainability through stories, actions, and consequences that people can recognize from their own cultural and environmental surroundings.

EcoGames Foundation is a nonprofit organization that uses games to educate people of all ages and communities about environmental sustainability and conservation, addressing environmental issues like deforestation, plastic waste pollution, and loss of biodiversity. Their mission is to build an eco-conscious society where environmental knowledge leads to real community action, including tree planting, environmental protection, and youth environmental leadership across Ghana, Africa, and beyond. 

EcoGames Foundation has achieved several important milestones in advancing environmental education through games. 

The organization has introduced Africa’s first Interschool Climate Games Championship, with the first competition expected to take place later in 2026. This initiative aims to encourage students to engage with environmental issues through interactive competition and real-world environmental action.

Looking ahead, EcoGames Foundation is working on new partnerships and additional environmental game projects to further expand its impact and continue promoting sustainability education across Ghana and beyond.

You can access the mobile version of ATi here:

• Google Play Store
• Apple App Store