In a significant move to combat environmental degradation, Blue Deal Ghana, through the White Volta Basin Secretariat under the Water Resources Commission, in collaboration with the Forestry Commission, has embarked on a massive tree-planting campaign to plant 50,000 seedlings across selected forest reserves in the Upper East Region.
The ceremonial launch of the initiative, dubbed “Tree for Life,” as part of the Government of Ghana’s afforestation efforts, took place at Kongo Senior High School in the Nabdam District. The event brought together traditional leaders, environmental chiefs, students, and key stakeholders.
The aim of the initiative is not only to plant trees but to instill a culture of nurturing them to maturity.
Notably, 25 Environmental Chiefs from the Bongo Traditional Area—enskinned through a partnership between Blue Deal Ghana and the Paramount Chief of Bongo—were present. These chiefs, under the White Volta Basin Secretariat, have long championed the fight against illegal logging, sand mining, and other harmful environmental practices. Their presence at the event served as a rich source of indigenous knowledge and experience in sustainable environmental protection.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Justice Aduko, Project Manager for Blue Deal Ghana at the White Volta Basin Secretariat, emphasized the importance of treating tree planting as a life-saving act.
“This day is not just about planting trees,” he said. “It’s about understanding that trees are life. When the last tree dies, the last man also dies. We are here to encourage people not only to plant but to care for and nurture these trees as a way of life.”
Dr. Aduko noted that the collaboration with the Forestry Commission would expand the project’s capacity to achieve long-term environmental sustainability, and he called for community ownership of the initiative.
Sharing their experience, one of the Environmental Chiefs remarked:
“Protecting our environment is our sacred duty. We’ve spent years encouraging our people to grow and protect trees. Being part of this ceremony means a lot to us, and we are proud to share our success stories.”
The Upper East Regional Manager of the Forestry Commission, David Kwaku Appiagyei, echoed the call for collective responsibility. He urged all traditional leaders and stakeholders to take tree planting seriously and integrate it into their daily lives.
“We must all see tree planting as more than a ceremony—it is a way of life,” he stated.
Source: A1Radioonline.Com | 101.1MHz | Moses Apiah | Bolgatanga
