Mampong (Ash), July 08, GNA – Mr. Kwaku Ampratwum Sarpong, Member of Parliament (MP) for Mampong, has said it is imperative that the nation imbues in school children the culture of tree planting and good environmental practices.
Ghanaian children, he said, ought to be taught the relevance of the environment to the survival of humanity, thereby, encouraging them to protect the ecology and biodiversity.
“When the last tree is cut, the last man dies”, he emphasized, and lauded the government for the recent launch of the ‘Greening Ghana’ Project.
Mr. Ampratwum Sarpong was speaking at a ceremony to outdoor the Mampong basic schools’ version of the Project, at the Municipality.
The aim is to stimulate a tree planting competition amongst schools in the area.
According to the MP, the school that would emerge as the winner by taking good care of its plants would be awarded GH¢1000.00 as prize money, while the second-placed school takes home GH¢700.00, and the third school being given GH¢500.00.
The agenda is in line with the MP’s vision to boost the forest cover of the area and sustain plant life and water bodies for the wellbeing of the people.
Mr. Ampratwum Sarpong said it would be expedient for each pupil to plant a tree and take care of it until it reached the maturity stage.
Trees to be planted by the children would be inspected annually, he hinted, urging the participating schools to take keen interest in the concept.
Mr. Ampratwum cautioned residents who lived along the banks of water bodies within the Municipality were expected to plant trees within their communities to preserve nature.
The MP as part of the event planted a symbolic tree to commence the Project.
He was assisted by some forestry officers to demonstrate to the pupils how to plant a tree.
GNA