The Hon. Minister, Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh said the Ministry is undertaking a massive Tree Planting and Forest Plantation Development initiative through the youth in Afforestation Programme. This he said, will help promote the conservation of biodiversity, protection of water bodies, promoting eco-tourism development and ensuring strict enforcement of forestry laws. The Hon. Minister stated this at the 2019 Forestry week and Greening Ghana day celebration at Nsoatre in the Bono Region on the theme “Forests and Education: Our responsibility” the celebration was to commemorate the International Day of Forests, which falls on March 21 each year.
The Hon. Minister, Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh noted that globally, forest degradation has been recognized as a major threat’s to Sustainable Development and hence Nations have been tasked to make commitments to address this challenge in their National Policies, Strategies and Programmes within the broad framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
On his part, Mr. Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission urged the public to join in the celebration “as it is our collective responsibility to sustain the forest by creating awareness on the immerse roles trees play in human lives”
As part of this year’s celebrations, prizes were presented to Sacred Heart, St. James, Sunyani Senior High, Nsoatre Dame and Twene Amanfo Schools for winning the Inter-Schools debate competition on Forest. They were awarded, laptops and printers and presented with cash donations.
Also present at this year’s Forestry week and Greening Ghana Day celebrations were the Hon. Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Naana Eyiah, Bono Regional Minister, Hon. Evelyn Ama Kumi Richardson, Chairman and Commissioner of the Forestry Commission.
