The Obuasi Municipal Assembly (OMA) has indicated that it will soon roll out a programme to grow more grasses and trees in open spaces within the municipality. This, according to the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Elijah Adansi-Bonah, will complement government’s Green Ghana Agenda.
Speaking with the media at the launch of the Green Ghana Day in Obuasi, the Obuasi MCE said the assembly will work with the Obuasi office of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), as well as the Physical Planning Department to identify open spaces in the municipality to grow grasses and plant trees. This is intended to make Obuasi greener, and mitigate the effects of climate change.
Introduced in 2021, the Green Ghana initiative seeks to create enhanced national awareness of the necessity for collective action toward restoration of degraded landscape in the country, and inculcate in the youth the value of planting and nurturing trees and their associated benefits. The theme for this year’s edition was ‘Mobilising for a Greener Future’.
Touching on the importance of the programme to the people of Obuasi, Mr. Adansi-Bonah said Obuasi, as a mining town, has witnessed portions of its green vegetation depleted as a result of legal and illegal mining activities.
“Due to this, a conscious effort needed to be taken to reduce, if not to stop it; hence, we deem the introduction of the Green Ghana Day by government as a timely intervention.”
He assured that this year’s celebration will not be business as usual, but the assembly has put in place concrete measures to ensure that seedlings planted are nurtured so that they reach maturity.
The Obuasi MCE also lifted the lid on plans by the assembly to deal with those who indulge in indiscriminate cutting of trees. He said the assembly is in the process of reviewing its bye-laws and would consider introducing punitive action against those who destroy the vegetation cover, in its bye-laws.
The Senior Manager – Sustainability, Anglogold Ashanti, Obuasi Mine – Emmanuel Baidoo, said the company, in support of the Green Ghana initiative by government, will grow 1000 trees every year. “AGA, together with AGA Malaria Control and other stakeholders in the communities, is committed to plant 1000 trees every year. This year, we are aiming to scale it up to 2000. We will make sure the trees that are planted are well nurtured and end up being developed to contribute to the diversity we all anticipate.”
Henry Yeboah, the Supervisor of the Obuasi office of the Forestry Commission, said due to the successful implementation of the programme last year, government decided to increase the seedlings from 5 million to 20 million.
He gave the seedlings planted in Obuasi in 2021, a 70 percent survival rate, and promised to continue to monitor those that are given out this year.
He reiterated that Obuasi has been given 19,000 seedlings to be given out freely to individuals, churches and organisations. He further advised beneficiaries to maintain and protect them.
Obuasi MCE donates 700 coconut seedlings to 21 farmers
In a related development, Elijah Adansi-Bonah has distributed 700 coconut seedlings to 21 farmers in the Obuasi Municipality. This was after the MCE donated 1000 coconut seedlings to some farmers in the municipality about a month ago.
The donation forms part of government’s Planting for Export and Rural Development Programme. Nananom, assembly members and heads of department were all present.
