The Ashanti Regional Minister, Hon. Simon Osei Mensah; on Friday 9 June 2023 joined the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu, and other dignitaries such as the Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources in charge of Forestry, Mr. Benito Owusu Bio. the Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, Samuel Pyne; and MCE of Asokore Mampong Municipality, Kennedy Kankam to mark this year’s ‘Greening Ghana’ programme aimed at protecting the country against environmental degradation and the harsh effects of the changing weather.
The Asantehene, was the first to plant an Achee Apple known in Akan as ‘Akye’ with the botanical name of ‘Biighia sapila’, while the Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Benito Owusu Bio, planted a ‘Weeping Willow’.
The Ashanti Regional Minister, Hon. Simon Osei-Mensah, noted that as part of measures to nurture and maintain the trees planted, the Regional Coordinating Council is encouraging the various local Assemblies to strictly enforce their by-laws against stray animals, since it is has been identified as one of the major threats to the survival of the trees planted.
Hon. Benito Owusu Bio showed his appreciation to Otumfuo Osei Tutu for his commitment to the various initiatives of the government in restoring and protecting the environment.
He noted that the President has set a national target of 10 million trees. “This means we expect to plant at least 10 million trees on this day, and Asanteman has always risen to the challenge,” he added.
He commended the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council, for partnering with the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, to undertake the ‘Keep Kumasi Clean and Green’ initiative. It is an effort to restore the city to its former glory as ‘the Garden City’ and also, position Kumasi as a climate resilient city. This is a step in the right direction.