From seedlings to stewardship: EPA mobilises pupils for climate-resilient Ghana

The Central Regional Office of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has stepped up environmental education in basic schools, urging pupils to adopt good habits and join tree-planting drives to help tackle climate change.

The initiative is part of the authority’s broader effort to raise a new generation of environmentally conscious citizens.

As part of the exercise, the EPA embarked on an outreach programme at Ajumako Mando in the Ajumako Enyan Essiam District to promote environmental awareness and sustainable practices among schoolchildren.

The engagement, which involved pupils from Mando Methodist Basic School and Mando D/A Basic School on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, formed part of activities marking this year’s World Environment Day.

Acting Regional Director’s Remarks

Explaining the rationale, the Acting Central Regional Director of the EPA, Dr Daniel Nartey, said children are tomorrow’s leaders.

“We believe it is important to promote tree planting and educate pupils on good environmental habits because children are the future custodians of the environment,” he stated.

He added: “There is an adage that says, ‘Catch them young and they shall be yours forever.’ Instilling environmental values at an early age helps create a generation that is conscious of and committed to protecting environmental resources.”

Dr Nartey explained that trees absorb carbon dioxide, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and help mitigate the effects of climate change – hence the authority’s decision to provide seedlings for the pupils to plant.

District Education Office Representative

The Finance and Administration Officer at the Ajumako District Education Office, Mr Fred Incoom, who represented the District Director of Education, reflected on the national theme for this year’s World Environment Day: “Building a Climate-Resilient Ghana through Responsible Stewardship.”

He said the theme placed a responsibility on all Ghanaians, including school pupils, to play active roles in building a climate-resilient Ghana.

Mr Incoom encouraged the pupils to embrace the EPA’s initiative, learn the importance of protecting nature, plant trees to help mitigate climate change, and become responsible citizens who care for the environment.

Climate consciousness for the young
A Programme Officer at the Central Regional EPA Office, Mr Haneef Abeiku Forson, said the authority had targeted pupils at the basic school level to help them understand climate change and its impacts.

He noted that rainfall patterns in the country had already changed as a result of climate change, a situation that underscored the need to instil climate consciousness in young people.

Mr Forson advised the pupils to become ambassadors of the EPA’s environmental protection campaign by educating their peers on the dangers of littering and indiscriminate waste disposal.

“As ambassadors, you have a duty to educate your parents on the need to separate household waste into plastic, organic, solid and liquid categories. Additionally, learn and practise the five ‘R’ principles: Refuse, Reuse, Reduce, Recycle and Repurpose,” he said.

Seedlings presented to schools
A variety of seedlings – including pawpaw, coconut, acacia and mango – were presented to the two schools through the headteachers, Messrs Ernest de-Graft Enyan (D/A School) and Solomon Acquah (Methodist School). The trees are to be planted on the school compounds to mitigate climate change, provide fruit for pupils, offer shade, and help reduce temperatures.

EPA-branded souvenirs were also given to pupils who answered questions correctly during an open quiz held as part of the programme.