NASPA supports 'Green Bongo Project' in tree planting

Naba Baba Salifu Alemyarum, Paramount of Bongo, symbolically planting a tree

The ambition of the Paramount Chief of the Bongo Traditional Area, Nana Baba Alemyarum Salifu, to reverse the worrying nature of desertification in his area, last week received a significant boost, when the National Service Personal Association (NASPA) of Upper East Region undertook a tree-planting exercise in the Bongo District.

In all, 120 assorted seedlings were transplanted. They were provided by the Bongo Traditional Council, through 'the Green Bongo Project.'

According to the Paramount Chief, since 2008, when the Traditional Council embarked on tree-planting under the 'Green Bongo Project,' over 150,000 trees had since been planted, with a survival rate of 60 per cent.

Naba Alemyarum disclosed that he had secured over 1,000 grafted mango seedlings, which would be distributed to the various communities and institutions in the district to be planted and effectively monitored, to ensure their survival.

The regretted that school children, teachers, and the general public stand in the sun at school parks during festive occasions.

He, however, expressed hope that the trees planted around the football grounds at the Catholic Social Centre would provide shade for school children, teachers, and the general public during such activities.

He was thankful to NASPA for taking the initiative in partnering his traditional council to plant the trees, and noted that through by-laws passed by the council on bushfire, the practice had reduced drastically. He proudly said that the area had not, in the past two years, recorded any bushfires.

The Ghana National Fire Service in the area also rewarded the Bongo Traditional Council for not recording any bushfires.

In his remarks, the Bongo District Coordinator of NASPA, Mr. Stephen Kwadan-Nab, said his association had decided to make tree planting part of its annual NASPA celebration in the district, since environmental degradation by human activities was rampant in the area.

He said NASPA would not only plant trees, but would ensure their nurturing for posterity, and this they would do by collaborating with the traditional council in the area.