The Rotary Club of Accra- Osu Oxford Street has planted over 30 trees in three schools along the coast in Korle Gonno in the Greater Accra Region as part of efforts to increase the green cover of the country and fight the negative impact of climate change.
The club planted Mango, royal palm and coconut trees at the Hijaz Islamic Basic School, Dr F.V. Nanka Bruce Junior High School and the Great Kwame Nkrumah Memorial School over the weekend.
The President of the Rotary Club of Accra-Osu Oxford Street, Ms Priscilla Ekua Praba Fynn said the exercise was in line with Rotary International’s goals to make the world green and make the environment safe for future generations born and unborn.
“Growing up we used to find a lot of trees especially coconut trees along the coast and over time all these trees have died and others were cut down without being replaced hence our presence here to plant more trees for the children also to learn to continue the process of replacing a tree with a new one whenever an old one dies which will make the environment green over time,” she said.
She added that her outfit was confident the children would nurture the trees for them to grow as she and her members would visit the schools from time to time to check on the students and the trees saying that “if any education was needed, we will provide it with the help of the forestry commission.”
Ms Fynn commended the forestry commission for supporting the project adding that “they gave us these plants to plant in the schools for free because they believe that our initiative was in the right direction and would go a long way to help the country.
She disclosed that the exercise was being undertaken simultaneously by all Rotary clubs across the country as the clubs were committed to making the country safe saying that “this exercise is a continuous process hence the importance of it to be continued in the rest of the schools across the country.”
She urged all stakeholders to plant a tree to save a life as “it could not be done by an individual or just a group of people because if we all come together, we will be able to make Ghana green again.”
The headteacher of the Great Kwame Nkrumah Memorial School, Mr Samuel Boateng commended the Rotary Club of Accra-Osu Oxford Street for engaging in a tree planting exercise in partnership with schools.
“The children are going to learn the importance of the tree planting and also partake in the protection of the trees, see them grow and continue with the cycle,” he said.
He further urged the club to embark on an education exercise to educate Ghanaians on the importance of the exercise as Ghana had already lost significant parts of its green cover.
BY JESSEL LARTEY THERSON-COFIE