Ho, May 21, GNA – The Volta Region is targeting the planting of at least 200,000 trees on June 11 as part of the Green Ghana Project.
The government in March 2021, launched the project with a target planting and nurturing of five million trees across the country on the day to aid environmental conservation.
Mr. John Allotey, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Forestry Commission, who was touring the Region to assess preparedness, told the media that the project was being designed to encourage the participation of all and to promote tree maintenance culture.
He said nurturing the trees was a very important component, thus, the Commission would monitor the exercise towards the best end.
“It is important to plant and it is more important to nurture them. When you plant trees, you will understand its worth and protect them,” Mr. Allotey said.
The CEO visited tree nurseries and met with staff of the Commission in the various Districts while viewing some tree planting sites including land banks allocated for the project.
Mr. Allotey said he was impressed with the support from Regional Minister and the Chiefs, and made a general appeal for land banks to aid the exercise.
Dr Archibald Yao Letsa, Volta Regional Minister earlier expressed excitement over the project when the CEO paid a courtesy call on him and promised to help mobilise the chiefs and the people towards realising an exceeded target.
He said the Region had the capacity to plant over 400,000 trees and that the Region’s leaders would play their respective roles in realising this feat.
Togbe Adzie Lakle Howusu XII, Warlord of Asogli State decribed the Project a laudable one and said the Traditional Council would endeavour to ensure its success in the area.
He said land owners and custodians would be encouraged to release lands, and made a passionate appeal to the Commission to replace felled avenue trees.
The Forestry Commission in the Region has in stock over 150,000 seedlings including acacia, mahogany, afram, and some fruit trees.
One million fruit trees would be planted nationwide and the Commission would sustain the exercise beyond the day, which is expected to become an annual event.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo together with the Speaker of Parliament and the Chief Justice would lead the planting, and A 60-member multi stakeholder national planning committee has been formed to manage the successful implementation.
GNA