Accra, June 14, GNA – The Ebenezer Senior High School Old Students Association Monday planted over 1,000 trees as part of efforts to restore depleted vegetation cover and address issues of climate change.
The exercise was the School and alumni’s contribution to the government’s “Green Ghana Project,” which commenced on Friday, June 11, 2021 across the country, to plant five million trees nationwide.
The “Green Ghana Project” was initiated by the Forestry Commission, through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.
Mr Frank Nii Quaye, the Project Coordinator, said Ghanaians must take deliberate on steps to restore lost vegetation cover due to human activities to mitigate the threats of climate change.
He noted that deforestation had led to a reduction in oxygen concentration in the atmosphere, caused erratic rainfall patterns and the outbreak of various unknown diseases which needed urgent solutions.
He, therefore, lauded government for initiating the Green Ghana Project, which he said, would go a long way in restoring, if not all, a large part of vegetation cover lost.
Mr Abbey said even though the Association had already mooted the idea to plant some trees to protect the environment, it was pleased to incorporate it into government’s Green Ghana Project.
The trees being planted on the one and half hectares of school land, included 950 exotic species, notably teak and 60 local species such as mahogany, ofram, cidrella and cocoa.
Mr Abbey, who is also a Forester and a Natural Resource Consultant, said the Association carefully chose the species, particularly the teak, due to their economic benefits and research purposes.
“The main aim is to protect the environment, recycle the nutrients and generate internal funds in future because these trees will mature between 10 to 15 years and the school can harvest them and sell them for electric poles or even for timber to bring in extra cash to the school,” he said.
The Forester urged Ghanaians to support the tree planting initiative to ensure that the project achieved its target and purpose.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin and Asantehene Otumfuo Osei-Tutu II, were among several Ghanaians who planted a tree on Friday, June 11, 2021 as part of the “Green Ghana Project.”
GNA