By Deborah Asantewaah SARFO
The Petroleum Commission, Ghana, (PCG) has joined the Dzorwulu Special School in planting about 150 seedlings to contribute toward a greener environment for tomorrow and also support the president’s vision by planting more trees on Green Ghana Day, an initiative under the Green Ghana Project.
The exercise commenced at the premises of PCG and was climaxed at the Dzorwulu Special School, where Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Prince Benjamin Aboagye, on behlaf of Chief Executive Officer Egbert Faibille Jnr., led the management and some staff of PCG to join students in planting trees.
According to Mr. Aboagye, embarking on such an exercise with the students signifies that “the kids themselves can equally also do something commemorating to support the president’s vision”, and also ensures that they take ownership of the seedlings planted.
He added that in as much as the institutions aims to support the Green Ghana Day initiative, their small environment could not accommodate enough tree planting – hence the need to scout for another location with access to land to get more trees planted.
He noted that the exercise is being replicated by the Commission at some selected schools in the Western Region. The team planted soursop, coconut, acacia and royal palm seedlings among others.
In ensuring the trees’ sustainability, he appealed for management of the school to “provide the necessary assistance for the plants”, adding he would also pass by the school once in a while to ensure what he planted is growing to the extent he expects.
PC also put a smile on the students’ faces with a donation of items – bags of rice, gallons of oil, buckets of tomato paste and water.
For his part, the manager of Corporate Affairs at PC, Edward Appiah-Brafoh, elaborated on the significance of tree planting toward the country’s target of net zero carbon in 2070 – stressing that achieving the target does not call for an extinction of fossil fuels, but rather “coming up with ideas and technologies that will help minimise the emissions of greenhouse gases”.
“So in the energy transition framework that the president of our republic has assented to, Ghana is seeking to have net zero emission by 2070. This tree planting exercise is part of that agenda. So when we talk of net zero, we are not saying we’re not going to use or produce oil and gas anymore. We are planting trees and coming up with other innovative ways that will help offset the emission of carbon and other greenhouse gases,” he emphasisied.
He indicated that in contributing to the seedlings’ sustainability, the Commission has committed some resources to be given gardeners who will maintain, tend and water the plants to ensure their growth.
“So we are more or less giving a stipend; some monetary motivation for gardeners to ensure the trees grow. The ones we planted at the Commission are all going to be maintained and catered for by gardeners, watering them and ensuring that they grow,” he said.
Mr. Appiah-Brafoh is optimistic that with the presence of gardeners and consistent checking up, the plants will be in a good state next year.
The school’s Headmaster, Fredrick Tetteh, indicated that the tree-planting will serve as a wind-break and also beautify the school. He assured PCG of ensuring sustainability for trees planted at the school, saying: “I am assuring them we will maintain whatever they have done here. Though the students can be destructive, management will put them in check to ensure they don’t destroy them”.
