200 Commemorative Trees Planted

From Ernest Kofi Adu, Kumasi

Rev. Fr. Louis Tuffuor planting the first tree with other members of the Commission and some school children

Members of the Justice and Peace Commission of the Kumasi Catholic Archdiocese planted 200 teak and mitia trees in four schools last Friday as part of this year's Arbor Day celebration in Ghana.

The beneficiary schools were the Christ the King R/C at Ahensan, St. Martin De-Pores R/C Primary at Atonsu and two other Catholic basic schools at Tafo and Anyinam.

Arbor Day, which is observed in many countries, is a day set aside to encourage individuals and groups to plant and care for trees as part of efforts to fight climate change. It is celebrated at the beginning of the raining season.

Rev. Fr. Louis Tuffour, Vicar-General of the Kumasi Catholic Archdiocese, said tree planting is the most popular event that helps the environment to filter pollution, recycle water, prevent soil loss, provide food and medicine for humans and wildlife and serve wind breaks.

According to him, without trees there would be no life on this planet, intimating that plants provide mankind with their needs and take away harmful chemicals and other unwanted materials in the soil and in the air.

Fr. Tuffour asked Ghanaians to desist from the habit of using gutters and streams as dumping sites of refuse, while pointing out the dangers associated with such indiscipline.

He noted that automobiles, manufacturing and some human activities were wreaking havoc on the environment, and called for all and sundry to help reduce global warming simply by planting trees.

'An average size tree creates sufficient oxygen in one year for a family of four. Planting trees around buildings and homes can cut air-conditioning costs up to 50 percent,' he noted.

The Vicar-General said the fact that trees are the natural habitat of some animals and birds is clear evidence that tree planting is important.

'Planting trees means availability of more wood and paper products; so start digging immediately if you have the means to plant a tree,' he charged and added that there are a few of them which fully offset the changes brought about by global warming.

The Coordinator of Justice and Peace Commission, Rev. Fr. Patrick Osei-Poku, recalled that the first Arbor Day in the world was celebrated in 1805 at a Spanish town called Villanueva de la Sierra.

According to him, a Spanish priest who was convinced of the importance of trees to health and decoration, decided to plant trees, and that activity is commemorated yearly.

From Ernest Kofi Adu, Kumasi