By Anthony Adongo Apubeo, GNA
Fumbisi, (U/E), Dec. 23, GNA – AfriKids Ghana has marked a major milestone under its Children Against Climate Change (CACC) programme with the planting and nurturing of 5,000 trees across four districts in the Upper East and North East Regions.
In a speech read on his behalf by Mr Raymond Akolbire Ayinne, the Communication and Advocacy Manager, Mr David Pwalua, the Country Director of AfriKids Ghana, who revealed this achievement, at Tree Festival held at Fumbisi in the Builsa South District, said the success was chalked over three years.
The initiative had funding support from Gower Street and technical support from the Organisation for Indigenous Initiatives and Sustainability, Ghana (ORGIIS Ghana), as well as guidance and resources provided from the Forestry Commission.
The Tree Festival brought together pupils, teachers, officials of the Forestry Commission, the Ghana Education Service (GES), development partners, and community members.
The Country Director explained that the trees were planted in the Binduri, Talensi and Builsa South districts in the Upper East Region, as well as the Mamprugu Moagduri District in the North East Region.
The programme was aimed at restoring degraded environments while instilling environmental stewardship and climate responsibility among schoolchildren and their communities.
Mr Pwalua noted that the milestone demonstrated the impact of collective action, highlighting that the programme had strengthened collaboration between schools, communities, and state institutions.
Mr Felix Amoah, the Bolgatanga Municipal Manager of the Forestry Commission, commended AfriKids and the participating schools for supporting the government’s Tree for Life initiative, which encouraged citizens to plant and nurture trees.
He stressed that tree planting should become a habit and not a one-off activity, and highlighted the importance of trees in providing oxygen, regulating climate, preventing soil erosion, and supporting biodiversity.
Mr Amoah said the Forestry Commission would continue to supply seedlings to schools and individuals free of charge, adding that over 200,000 seedlings were distributed to institutions this year, with plans to increase production to 300,000 in the coming planting season.
Mr Atuburoa Moses Asiawen, a representative of the Builsa South District Director of Education, said the AfriKids Ghana’s intervention had significantly improved tree planting efforts in schools within the district.
He noted that the emphasis on education and proper seedling care had resulted in high survival rates, unlike previous efforts where trees planted in schools often failed to grow.
Mr Asiawen appealed for future seedling distribution to be aligned with peak rainfall periods to enhance sustainability and maximise benefits for schools and communities.
Mr Julius Awaregya, the Executive Director of ORGIIS Ghana, cautioned that human activities such as indiscriminate tree felling, bush burning and charcoal production were major contributors to climate change in northern Ghana.
He urged schools and communities to protect existing trees alongside new planting and to continue transferring tree-planting knowledge to successive groups of pupils.
As part of the festival, awards including watering cans, wheelbarrows, pickaxes, and citations were presented to schools that emerged as Highest Achievers in tree planting and maintenance over the two academic years.
They included Tongo-Balungu Primary School (Talensi District) for the 2023/24 year, and Winkogo Junior High School (Talensi District) for 2024/25, Gotesaliga Primary and Junior High School (Binduri District) for 2023/24 and Tansia Primary and Junior High School (Binduri District) for 2024/25.
The rest were Zeng Primary School (Builsa South District) for 2023/24 and Chansa Junior High School (Builsa South District) for 2024/25, as well as Prima D/A Basic School (Mamprugu Moagduri District) for 2023/24 and Yagaba Girls Model Junior High School (Mamprugu Moagduri District) for 2024/25.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali/Linda Asante Agyei