PICTURES: Green Ghana Day: Otumfuo, Hon. Simon Osei Mensah, Others Plant Trees In Kumasi
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, on Friday joined the Ashanti Regional Minister, Hon Simon Osei Mensah, M.P for Atwima Nwabiagya North. Hon. Benito Owusu Bio, and other dignitaries to plant trees in Kumasi to mark the maiden edition of government’s Green Ghana Project in a glamorous fashion.
Speaking at the event which occured at the Royal Golf Park at Danyame and monitored by Nana Owusu Achiaw, Hon Osei Mensah stressed that trees are very important to human life and anchored the government’s initiative on the old adage, “When the last tree dies, the last man also dies.”
He stressed that in an environment where there is a lot of greenery , a serene atmosphere and the provision of quality of air is created.
“But alternatively when an environment is without green plants, the presence of quality air cannot be felt due to the lack of trees. It is therefore important to embark on the Green Ghana Project” He noted.
The Ashanti Regional Minister commended Otumfuo Osei Tutu II for the vision he had some years past to initiate the Ashanti landscape restoration project aimed at planting trees across the Region.
He lauded the initiative and hoped that it would be implemented nationwide.
Hon. Simon Osei Mensah used the occasion to caution galamseyers to put a stop to illegal mining.
He stressed that, “if one million trees are planted and galamseyers deforest ten million trees, the Green Ghana exercise would be meaningless.”
The Ashanti Regional Minister indicated that, the fight against galamsey needs collective effort and that all hands must be on deck to eradicate the canker.
Taking his turn to address the gathering, the Deputy Minister-Designate for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Benito Owusu Bio , said forest provides a lot of benefits for the country’s ecosystem.
He noted that, despite the benefits, the country’s forests are severely degraded as a results of galamsey and like logging other illegal activities which must stop.
He emphasized that, In order to enjoy the numerous benefits of trees, there is the need to protect our forests.
“We are committed to plant five million trees nationwide as part of the Government’s Green Ghana Project to persevere the environment,”
Hon. Owusu Bio stated that, it is the responsibility of Ghanaians to take good care of the trees until they attain maturity.
Ashanti Region is expected to plant 900,000 trees as part of the Green Ghana project.