Manhyia sub-metro embraces tree-planting exercise

The Manhyia sub-metro of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) on Saturday undertook a tree-planting exercise, forming part of a grand agenda by the city authorities to enhance the ecology.

It was the second time the Assembly had embarked on such a project recently , with the first exercise been done at the Nhyiaeso sub-metro, and had a total of 1, 000 tree seedlings planted.    

The four-hour programme, organized under the auspices of the KMA Environmental sub-Committee, was designed to allow for 1, 300 tree seedlings of varied species to be planted.

The planting materials were supplied by the Forestry Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG) of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), and the participants comprised selected volunteer and youth groups.

They included â??terminaliamontalisâ??, â??bligliasapidaâ??, â??polythialongitoliaâ??, â??militia thonningiâ?? and royal palm.

Hon. Nana Yaw Wiredu, Convener of the Environmental sub-Committee, speaking to the media, said the Assembly was determined to improve biodiversity in the metropolis, and had, therefore, been undertaking stringent measures to plant the needed trees across the metropolis to achieve its objectives.

According to the 2010 Population and Housing Census, Kumasi, one of the oldest cities in the West African sub-region, had seen an increase in its population with more than 4 million people residing in the area.

The development had come with its own socio-economic challenges, but more importantly, it has had a serious repercussion on the environment.

Most of the fauna and flora, which adorned the area, making it to be touted as the â??Garden City of West Africaâ??, had been destroyed to make way for development projects.

Hon. Nana Wiredu said the KMA would increase its engagement with residents on regular basis to sensitize them on the benefits of tree-planting.

Three years ago, the KMA started a similar exercise under the Urban Forestry Project, and planting trees at Asokwa, Santasi, Sofo-Line-Tanoso road, and other areas.

The Environmental sub-Committee Convener advocated stiffer punishment for those who would flout on environmental-sanitation bye-laws.  

Hon. Nana Kwame Obeng, the Manhyia sub-metro Chairman, describe the exercise as a success, and appealed to residents of the area to shun the haphazard dumping of refuse.

â??Those who disregard our bye-laws on sanitation will be dealt with according to the lawâ??, he insisted.