The Ghana Ports and Habours Authority (GPHA) in partnership with Coastal Conservancy Organ­isation (CCO) has inaugurated GPHA’s Green Clubs Association with member­ship drawn from 12 basic schools in Tema.

The environmental clubs are groups of students, teachers and volunteers that are committed to raising aware­ness about environmental issues and to reduce negative environmental im­pact as individuals, school community and as citizens of the world.

In a speech read on his behalf, the Director General of GPHA, Mr Michael Luguje said trees had been steadfast allies to humans, given the destructive effects of climate change, pollution and loss of biodiversity.

Mr Luguje said his expectation was that the clubs would be made up of pupils who were concerned about the environment and were committed to learning and raising awareness about environmental issues.

“Again, we expect the club to work on projects benefiting the environ­ment like debates on the environ­ment, awareness creation and tree planting. As a Green Club, I wish that you will make greening Tema through tree planting one of key objectives,” he told the school children.

He noted, however that, the im­portance of planting trees transcended beyond mere physical benefits, adding that “it is a recognition of our respon­sibility to the environment, a respon­sibility that each one of us carries, regardless of age or background.”

The Chairman of CCO, Justice Lionel Eshun stated that the Green Ghana Project initiated by President Akufo-Addo was a call on all Ghanaians to rise up to the occasion and plant more trees and nurture them.

“As of March 2023, the CCO and GPHA had planted 1,139 trees with 86 per cent growth survival rate and 1,234 as of October 2023 covering a total land area of 3, 900, 000 square metres,” he disclosed.

Mr. Eshun commended the Forestry Commission (FC) for their support and technical know-how in planting and sustaining the growth of the trees.

 From Ken Afedzi, Tema