The District Chief Executive (DCE) of the North Tongu District Assembly, Divine Osborne Fenu, has revealed that authorities in the assembly have announced plans to plant trees quarterly besides the Green Ghana initiative.
According to him, some 15, 000 trees will be planted quarterly within communities in the district. He explained that it is necessary for the district to help make sure that the dream of President Akufo-Addo of a greener Ghana becomes a reality.
“Green Ghana project is a great initiative and I believe that if all assemblies can set up a target to have trees planted regularly, Ghana would be able to restore its green nature… Here in North Tongu District and together with my hardworking staff, Assembly Members and of course our revered Chiefs, we will quarterly plant at least between 10,000 to 15,000 plants across the districts, especially by the river banks, markets areas, schools and other important areas… I would be having meetings with stakeholders in this regard soon, to kick start the initiative of planting 15,000 trees in North Tongu District quarterly.”
Divine Osborne Fenu
The North Tongu DCE indicated that meetings would be held soon with the various stakeholders to kick start the first quarterly tree planting exercise. With this, he urged heads of schools and institutions to come on board and help make North Tongu a greener and better district.
“I would advise heads of schools and institutions to come on board and make this happen, because we wouldn’t want to wait till one year.”
Divine Osborne Fenu
Bui Power Authority’s Green Ghana Initiative in tandem with FREP
Meanwhile, Bui Power Authority (BPA) has disclosed that the Green Ghana Initiative is in tandem with the Authority’s ongoing Forest Resource Enhancement Program (FREP). This is designed to promote reforestation activities and conservation of the natural forest in their operational areas.
According to the Deputy Director, Occupational Health, Safety and Environment at BPA, Chrisentus Bangkewa Kuunifaa, BPA’s planting of 20,000 species of seedlings as part of FREP includes: Teak, Acacia, Cedrela, Mahogany, and fruit trees (mango, coconuts, guava, and citrus). This, he noted, have been planted on a 172 hectares of land.
Mr Kuunifaa highlighted that BPA has plans to establish additional 405-hectare plantations to also enhance the ecosystem within the Bui enclave.
“The forest being created under the program would help control and protect the Bui lake against soil erosion, reservoir siltation, and sedimentation, thereby prolonging the lifespan of the lake to sustain economic activities such as power production, fishery, tourism, agriculture, water supply, improvement of microclimate, among others.”
Chrisentus Bangkewa Kuunifaa
On his part, the Director of Estates at BPA, Wombila Salifu, speaking on behalf of the BPA CEO, Samuel Kofi Dzamesi, expressed that climate change and global warming continue to threaten clean and safe renewable energy use. To address the situation, he noted that it requires measures that are in line with sustainable development goals 7 and 3
“Policy makers, planners, managers can no longer rely on the past climatic conditions, but concerted efforts are needed in building climate resilience now and the future.”
Wombila Salifu
READ ALSO: Democracy Goes Beyond Enriching Family And Friends- John Mahama
