Accra, June 8, GNA – The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the British High Commission have marked the Green Ghana Day and the Queen’s Platinum Anniversary with a tree planting exercise at the Queen Elizabeth II Education Foundation in Accra.
Mr Benito Owusu-Bio, a Deputy Minister of Lands, said the nation would plant at least 20 million trees on Friday, June 10, to commemorate the Green Ghana Day, to be led by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
The Day forms part of an aggressive reforestation/afforestation strategy of the Government to restore the lost forest cover of the country and contribute towards global efforts to fight climate change and other adverse impacts on lives and livelihoods.
He urged every Ghanaian, especially students, to actively participate in the exercise to build a sustainable future.
“It is imperative to inculcate in school children the culture of tree planting, growing and nurturing,” Mr Owusu-Bio said.
The 2022 Edition of the “One Student, One-Tree” initiative was launched at the Aggrey Memorial AME Zion Senior High School, intended to be marked every year.
Mr Owusu-Bio expressed appreciation to the British High Commission for collaborating with the Ministry to celebrate the Green Ghana Day and the Queen’s Platinum Anniversary.
He commended the school authorities for hosting the event and believed it would take a collaborative effort to protect the environment.
Ms Harriet Thompson, the British High Commissioner, expressed profound appreciation to the Government and the Ministry for the tireless efforts in greening Ghana.
She encouraged the public to take part in the exercise as it had tremendous benefits for humans and the environment.
“Trees are precious to us. They help to keep this hot temperature down, provide homes for nature and wildlife. And they also help to clean our water bodies and the air, and most importantly, help mitigate the negative effects of climate change,” she said.
“We’re really looking forward to joining the Ministry to green Ghana together on June 10.”
The Administrator of the School, Mr Ebenezer Nartey, commended the Ministry and the High Commission for selecting the school to host the event and appealed to them to aid in rehabilitating the school.
The school gained its name as Queen Elizabeth II Day Nursery Centre when the Queen accompanied Ghana’s First President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, to pay a visit to the school on November 11, 1961.
The name had since been changed to Queen Elizabeth II Education Foundation and transformed from Creche and Nursery to Basic one to the ninth level.
Ms Harriet and Mr Owusu-Bio both planted trees to mark the day.
GNA