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By
Godfred A. Polkuu, RNG
Bolgatanga, March 18
GNA – Ms. Paulina Patience Abayage, Regional Minister for Upper East East, at the
This weekend, the Greening Northern Ghana (GNG) project was inaugurated in the region.
The GNG is a
Voluntary registered non-governmental environmental organization (NGO) created
by people of northern origin and other people from outside the
North who adhere to the ideals of the project.
The project's goal
is to ensure that about 25 million trees are grown in the Upper East, the Upper
Regions West, North, Savannah and North-East of the country.
Speaking on the theme:
"Towards a green North of Ghana: a choice, not a choice," said Abayage
The project included a growth element to add value to grbades
the burning bush unattractive.
She observed this bush
fires in the past had been widespread in the area.
"Our local people
in particular farmers, charcoal burners, hunters and cisters have occupied
themselves with starting bushfires as a survival strategy. "
"As a result,
already minimal vegetation cover was destroyed and the soil severely
degradation leading to desertification, "she added.
Madame Abayage noted
that these situations had wreaked havoc on the soils of the region with the
the consequences are soil erosion, reduced soil fertility and low crop yield.
She said farm products
gathered or gathered were lost due to the bush fires, which had exacerbated
local food crisis, hunger and other socio-economic problems, "loss of
lives, homes, property and cattle with bushfires are not uncommon sometimes. "
"It's in the light of
what I recognize is that this project is the most timely and a step in the right
direction. I wish to take this opportunity to urge our people to avoid all
forms of activities that destroy our natural environment. "
The minister said that
desert was indeed fast approaching and called on members of the public to
embrace the project to enable it to achieve its goal.
Madame Abayage who is a
former ambbadador to Italy, said the government through the
Protection Agency (EPA) was involved in tree planting as part of the sustainable development program.
Land and Water Management Project in the Northern Areas of Ghana.
Alhaj Abdallah Otito
GNG President Achuliwor said the GNG leaders would be
visit all educational institutions from the basic level to the higher level in the five
regions to form GNG clubs.
He said the clubs
would be responsible for planting trees on their different campuses,
and make sure the trees have survived.
Alhaj Achuliwor said
GNG membership has been open to all members of the public, and
called the individuals to join the group.
Mr. Boniface Gambila,
GNG Local Planning Committee Chair stated that the group was founded
in good faith and the members firmly believed that their culture was derived from
the natural resources that God had created for them.
"The cornerstone of
our cultures are a deep sense of interconnection with the natural environment
which we are as much in the landscape as we depend on the
Earth's natural resources to survive. "
Mr. Gambila who is
former MP for Nabdam constituency told GNG members
they volunteered to fight against all forms of abuse on the lands of northern Ghana.
"We will protect all
the plant habitats of the said northern land, and that we will not do any damage to
plants or herbs. In fact, we will protect and promote all regreening on this
earth, "he added.
Some eminent
among the citizens of northern descent who are part of the GNG group, let us quote the professor
David Millar, Rector of Millar Open University, Reverend Professor Saah
Dittoh and Professor Hellen Yitah among others
GNA
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