The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Mampong in the Ashanti region, Thomas Appiah Kubi has urged Ghanaians to see the protection of the environment as a sacred social responsibility.
He said Ghanaians must recognize and accept the tree planting program introduced by NPP government through the National Green Ghana Project (planting, nurturing and protection of the tree) as a national responsibility that ought to be done at all costs in one’s lifetime and participate fully in it as one’s contribution towards the reduction of the effects of climate change.
“It is our responsibility to plant a tree, and more importantly protect it and the environment”, he said.
Towards this end, he said, we must also refrain from activities that contribute to environmental degradation and pollution, forest depletion as well as indiscriminate burning and felling of trees, and rather rededicate ourselves to efforts that tend to save the environment.
Mr. Appiah Kubi said these on Friday 7th June 2024 at Mampong when he addressed hundreds of people at the forecourt of the Mampong Municipal Assembly in the Ashanti Region, as part of the launch of the National Green Ghana Day Celebration. The day saw the Mampong Municipal Assembly and the Forestry Commission, with support from the Mampong Traditional Council and the Christian and Muslim Councils, Mampong, joining other districts across the country to commemorate the 2024 Green Ghana Day with tree planting.
Mampong MCE further urged Ghanaians to take keen interest in the Green Ghana Day by planting trees, adding that, tree planting is of huge economic benefit to the individual and the country, and that people who plant trees stand to benefit immensely economically. He described for instance, how beneficial a papaya tree he came to meet at his official residence after assuming office as MCE some years ago has been to him, and said that has encouraged him to even plant 3 more trees which he hoped would benefit his successors.
He said the Forestry Commission and the Mampong Municipal Assembly with the support from Nananom, Education Directorate and institutions and agencies in the municipality would be planting 200, 000 seedlings as part of the 2024 Green Ghana Day commemoration in the Mampong Forest Area and was confident that the survival and success rate of the trees would be high judging from the success record of the previous years.
He said 10 million tree seedlings were to be planted across the country and explained that they are expected to restore depleted forest reserves, provide shade and protect water bodies, all geared towards helping to protect the environment and reduce the negative effects of the climate change.
As part of the celebration, free seedlings were made available at the forecourt of the Mampong Municipal Assembly and the premises of the Forestry Commission for institutions and members of the general public with interest in the conservation of the environment for easy collection and planting to help contribute to enable the country to meet this year’s target of planting 10 million trees.
In his remarks made on his behalf by Nana Boakye Yiadom Atonsa, Mampong Gyaasehene, the Mamponghene and President of the Mampong Traditional Council, Daasebre Osei Bonsu II, urged the Municipal Directorate of the Ghana Education Service (GES) to introduce and instill in the school children the adoption of environmentally friendly practices to save the country.
Daasebre Osei Bonsu II said school pupils should be educated on the importance of tree planting, and the adoption of other good environmental practices, adding that, if these are done and done well, it would contribute to the reduction in the degradation and pollution of the environment and thereby help the country to achieve its target of greening the environment.
Mamponghene further said it is very important that the current generation adopted pragmatic and sustainable approach and hold unto it throughout their lifetime so as to significantly to reduce the impact of gaseous emissions and its harmful effects on the ozone layer and its gradual depletion and negative effect on the climate.
The Occupant of the Silver Stool of the Asante Kingdom said trees are so important and advised that tree planting exercise should be as a form of common competition among the various schools in the country and rewards given to schools that perform well in terms of the success and survival rate of the trees and possibly be extended to communities.
On his part, the District Manager, Forestry Commission, Mr. Yaw Boateng Asante noted with concern the recent climate change which he said have affected almost every activity, adding that, this have resulted in the drying up of most water bodies, a drastic change in weather pattern with it attendant negative impact on farming, as well as a change in peoples’ interest to do even simple body exercise like jogging due to excessive heat from scorching sun. He therefore called on all stakeholders to fully adapt and adopt holistic strategies to help reverse the trend.
He also advised that serious attention be placed on the planting of trees as a full time venture that deserve our effort, time and energy to guarantee the growth and survival of the trees. “Let each and every one of us make a definite decision to plant just one tree and ensure its survival, and I can assured that with time we will see the positive impact of it”, he urged.
Some key personalities took turns to plant trees at the Mampong Assembly premises to demonstrate the seriousness the Assembly attached to the Green Ghana Project and also to encourage other people in the municipality to do same. They included the Municipal Chief Executive, Thomas Appiah Kubi, District Manager, Forestry Commission, Yaw Boateng Asante, and the Presiding Member (PM) for Mampong, Daniel Oduro, Sector Commander, Ghana Immigration Service, Chief Superintendent Mr. Daniel Fialetey Komla, the Works Engineer, Mr. John Gamah, Nana Boakye Yiadom Atonsa, Mampong Gaasehene among others.
Among the dignitaries who graced the occasion included the Municipal Co-ordinating Director (MCD), Mr. Mohammed Mumuni, security heads and officers, Nananom, the clergy, heads of department and staff of the Mampong Municipal Assembly and the media.
