Asiakwahene of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council in the Eastern Region, Daasebre Dr. Twum Ampofo II has outlined plans to plant 1,500 coconut and oil palm seedings on the reclaimed galamsey lands in the community.
It comprises 1,000 coconut seedlings and 500 oil palm seedlings.
Daasebre Dr. Ampofo II is targeted to planting 12,000 tree seedlings in Asiakwa to augment the Okyenhene, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin’s 1 million tree planting initiative in the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council to sustain the environment from the harm caused by the illegal miners.
The Asiakwa Royal Palace has planted 4,000 trees and is expected to plant another 1,500 seedlings, bringing the total number to 5,500, which is remarkable.
This move aimed at restoring the destruction of both lands and forests by the activities of illegal mining to enable Asiakwaman to go green again.
Addressing the people of Asiakwa during the Akwasidae durbar, Daasebre Dr. Twum Ampofo II, who serves as Okyeman Nifahene, noted that protecting the environment is paramount to him. Therefore if a tree is cut down by illegal miners, it should be replaced by multiple of it to ensure the land doesn’t become empty.
According to him, the illegal miners would enter the forest to mine if the land was empty, but they would back off if they saw that trees had been planted, indicating that they were aware of the consequences if they dared to touch them.
Despite banning mining activities in his community, he called on the community folks to keep on supporting him to fight the menace to safeguard the environment for the unborn generation.
Okyeman Nifahene used the opportunity and pleaded with his people to get involved in the tree-planting program, and he believes that if they come on board and join him, their target of planting 12,000 tree seedlings is feasible.
By// Kontihene Kofi Oboh.
Source// Obohnewsonline.com.
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