Accra, June 11, GNA – Mrs Elizabeth Naa Kwatsoe Tawiah Sackey, the Chief Executive of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, on Friday partnered some second cycle institutions to plant 17,000 tree seedlings in Accra as part of the Green Ghana Day initiative.
This year’s exercise targets planting some 20 million trees to restore the country’s forest cover and protect the environment.
The AMA Chief Executive earlier joined President Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo to plant trees at the Efua Sutherland Children’s Park.
She later proceeded to the Bank of Ghana Triangle on the Asafoatse Nettey Road with the Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, and the Presiding Member of the Assembly, Mr Alfred Asiedu Adjei, to plant some tree seedlings.
They were joined by students of the Accra Academy and St Mary’s Senior High School among others for the exercise.
Speaking to the media, Mrs Sackey said trees were important to create sustainable communities, preserve the environment and mitigate the effects of climate change.
The project would help in greening the city, beautify it, improve air quality, as well as reduce the heat and promote walking among the citizenry as a form of exercise, she said.
“It has become necessary because trees and vegetative cover help combat greenhouse effects, provide oxygen and shade. The initiative is also expected to reduce storms and runoff often witnessed within Accra anytime it rains heavily.”
Mrs Sackey said the Sub-Metropolitan District Councils, Assembly members, and National Disaster Management Organisation officers had been tasked to supervise the trees to ensure they grew well.
The 17,000 tree species, supplied by the Forestry Commission, include Militia, Flamboyant, Visual Palm, Orange, and Coconut.
The Ga Mantse congratulated the Government for initiating the laudable Green Ghana Project since forests and trees had significantly supported human life over the years.
« Our world is getting hotter, so is our country in particular…A little drive in the city is no longer refreshing because the pollution from the heavy traffic is thrown back at us, with all the tropical heat…Our survival depends on how well we mobilise for a greener future, » he said.
Nii Teiko Tsuru urged Ghanaians not just to plant the trees as an annual event but nurture them to grow, saying; “We don’t want to come back every year to always start afresh.”
Mr Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije, the Member of Parliament for Ablekuma South, said trees promoted better environment and cleaner air for all and called on everyone, regardless of the person’s political affiliation, to take the initiative seriously to preserve the environment.
The Green Ghana Day was launched by President Akufo-Addo as part of measures to mitigate the negative effects of climate change and restore degraded landscapes across the country.
