Members of the Diplomatic Corps have commemorated the Green Ghana Day by planting in the Achimota Forest Reserve.
In a ceremony held prior to the planting exercise at the Ghana Seismological Center, Nana Akosua Agyeman Prempeh, Board Member, who read a speech on behalf of the Chief Executive, Mr. John Allotey expressed her appreciation to the Members of the Diplomatic Corps for their constant support, active participation, and contribution to the restoration of the nation’s lost forest cover. She encouraged them to strengthen the relationship between the Commission and the Diplomatic Mission.
According to her, the goal of GGD will not be accomplished “if we continue to plant the seedlings without nurturing them”. She therefore used the platform to advice everyone to ensure they nurture and monitor their seedlings after planting.
The Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Lebanese Ambassador to Ghana, His Excellency Maher Kheir, applauded the Government, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resource and the Forestry Commission for the revolutionary vision of protecting and enriching landscape and vegetation. According to him, their efforts towards building a better and greener future as well as protecting the climate is admirable.
He said, “Deforestation is destroying the nation’s forest cover as such, there is the need to stop deforestation”. He advised the public to plant more trees and protect them. “We need to understand that we all have a role to play as a nation and we can make a difference if we do our best for a greener tomorrow” he said.
The Dean urged everyone to make a conscious effort of promoting and prioritising restoration initiatives. “Every person, community and organisation can plant in their own small way to fight climate change”, he concluded.
Members of the Diplomatic Corps were then taken to sites where they planted in 2021, 2022, and 2023, at the Ghana Seismological Observatory Center, to inspect the successful growth of the seedlings they planted. The Diplomatic Corps were then led to the Achimota Forest Reserve where they planted as part of activities to commemorate this year’s GGD. Some members of the Executive Management Team, Board Members, staff of the Forestry Commission, financial institutions, civil society organisations and members of the media also joined in the planting in the Forest Reserve. Seedlings planted by the Diplomatic Corps included Militia, Tree of life, Mansonia, Teak and Mahogany.
Diplomats from Netherlands, Zambia, Kenya, Canada, Mozambique, Namibia, Ethiopia, Germany, Morocco, Sudan, Burkina Faso, Turkey, Egypt, Togo, South Africa, Italy, Pakistan, Rwanda, Czech Republic, Zimbabwe as well as the UN Resident Coordinator and Saharawi all planted at the Seismological Center on GGD 2024.
His Excellency Maher Kheir unveiled a plaque for Green Ghana Day 2024 at the Achimota Forest Reserve.
