An artist from Larteh, Richard Mantey, is transforming personal loss and environmental concern into a powerful creative movement, using discarded materials to spark conversations on deforestation and sustainability.

Reflecting on his childhood, he recounts how walks beneath the lush canopy of trees in Larteh left a lasting impression, igniting a deep love for nature. However, that admiration gradually turned into concern as rapid development and urbanisation led to the widespread clearing of trees to make way for roads and buildings.

Determined to respond to this loss, Mantey began creating artworks from driftwood and wood scraps left behind by chainsaw operators. What started as a way to preserve fragments of fallen trees soon evolved into a broader exploration of environmental impact.

In a unique fusion of nature and technology, he incorporates discarded items such as computer circuit boards, car control panels, broken speedometers, and mobile phones into his work. These materials, often considered waste, are reimagined to symbolise the intersection between human activity and environmental degradation.

Beyond the studio, Mantey is actively engaging the next generation. Through outreach programmes in local schools, he educates students on the importance of environmental stewardship, afforestation, and reforestation.

Each piece of art, he explains, serves as both a tribute to the beauty and resilience of nature and a call to action, reminding audiences of what has been lost and what can still be preserved.

As communities continue to grapple with the effects of development, Mantey hopes his work will inspire a renewed commitment to protecting Ghana’s natural heritage.