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Osabarima Mmirrikkissi Okasum Apori,and a judge honoured with citations for their efforts at preventing environmental degradation.
Ho, June 14, GNA - The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources in collaboration with the Forestry Commission has launched this year’s Forestry Week and Greening Ghana Day celebrations with a tree planting exercise in the Volta Region.
This is being done to commemorate the International Day of Forests.
About 15,000 seedlings of various tree species will be planted in the Hohoe Municipality under the Greening Ghana project with a commemorative planting exercise along the banks of the Dayi River on Wednesday.
The Region, a hub of charcoal and fuel wood production, was chosen for the celebration to enable the Forestry Commission engage identifiable groups on forest sustainability.
Mr John Peter Amewu, Minister, Lands and Natural Resources, in a speech read on his behalf at a durbar to climax the celebration, said the theme, “Forests and Energy: Implications for Ghana”, reflected the “heavy dependence” on forests for livelihood and fuel wood needs of rural communities.
He said the “over-exploitation” of the nation’s forest resources- both timber and non-timber, called for a change in attitude towards the environment.
“The results of our disregard for the environment is the severe impact of climate change with its consequential effects of high temperatures, unpredictable rainfall patterns and low agricultural productivity, which we are experiencing in Ghana and in many parts of the World today”, Mr Amewu said.
He said tree nurseries would be established, biodiversity conserved, bamboo and rattan industries encouraged, as well as the promotion of eco-tourism and the strict enforcement of laws.
Mr Amewu called for the establishment of woodlots and appealed to educational institutions, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to join the tree planting initiative.
He also appealed to traditional leaders, as custodians of the land, to contribute their quota towards the fight for the environment and asked the Forestry Commission to avail free seedlings to interested communities across the country.





Mr Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, Chief Executive of the Commission, said about 70 per cent of Ghanaians depend on fuel wood for household energy needs and also as a major source of livelihood.
He said the Commission in collaboration with stakeholders in the wood industry would set up plantations of fast growing trees in the Region for a “constant and reliable” supply.
Mr Afriyie said the Forestry Commission, through policy and legislative reforms, law enforcements and reforestation programmes among others, continues to address issues facing natural resource sustainability, and encouraged the use of other forms of renewable energy sources.
He commended Government for the fight against illegal mining and appealed for a special court to deal with forest offences.
Dr Archibald Letsa, Volta Regional Minister, in a speech read on his behalf, said the sustainable management of forested areas would produce immense quantities of renewable fuels, and reinstated government’s commitment to protect natural resources.
Togbega Gabusu VI, Paramount Chief of Gbi Traditional Area, called for the maintenance of trees and provided the assurance that the traditional area would be free of illegal miners.
Students from selected schools in the Municipality as well as personnel and volunteers of the Forestry Commission, bearing placards, marched through the principal streets to raise public awareness on the state of the environment.



Osabarima Mmirrikkissi Okasum Apori, Chief of Akyem Hemang in the Eastern Region, and Mr. Michael Johnson Abbey, a Circuit Court Judge, at Nkawie in the Atwima Nwabiagya District of the Ashanti Region, were honoured with citations for their efforts at preventing environmental degradation.

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