The Upper East Chapter of the Old Vandals Association (OVA), the alumni body of the University of Ghana’s Commonwealth Hall, has donated and planted 50 assorted tree seedlings at Kongo Senior High School in the Nabdam District, while urging students to protect the environment and remain focused on their education.
The exercise formed part of the association’s Republic Day activities and supported Ghana’s national tree-planting campaign aimed at restoring the country’s rapidly declining forest cover.
President of the Upper East Chapter of the Old Vandals Association, Raymond Akolbire Ayinne, said the initiative was the association’s contribution to reversing environmental degradation caused by illegal mining, charcoal production and indiscriminate tree felling.
“Trees are life. Trees are spirit. When the last tree dies, the last man will die. We are not planting these trees just for today; we are planting them for the future,” he said.
Mr. Ayinne said the association received the seedlings from the Forestry Commission and appealed to students to nurture them to maturity.
Beyond the tree-planting exercise, he challenged students to make their education a priority, warning them against drug abuse, unhealthy relationships and indiscipline.
“Your primary goal is to learn. Relationships, drugs and alcohol will only derail your dreams. Focus on your studies and respect your school’s rules,” he said.
Headmaster of Kongo Senior High School, Martin Sebig Dittoh, praised the association for the gesture and challenged every student to take ownership of at least one tree.
“Let every student plant and nurture a tree so that when the Old Vandals return next year, you can proudly point to the tree you planted,” he said.
Mr. Dittoh also encouraged students to emulate the discipline and leadership demonstrated by the Old Vandals, saying commitment and perseverance produce lasting results.
Forest Range Manager for the Nabdam Range of the Forest Services Division, Nanor Michael Kwabena, urged the school community to ensure a high survival rate for the seedlings, revealing that schools with the best-performing trees would be rewarded under the district’s tree-growing initiative.
“Let’s nurture these trees well so that Kongo Senior High School will stand a chance of winning the award during the assessment,” he said.
The exercise brought together members of the Old Vandals Association, officials of the Forestry Commission, school authorities and students, who pledged to protect the trees and help improve the school’s environment.
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