In line with the Bank’s sustainability focus and the Sustainable Development Goal 15 which seeks to protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems and sustainably manage forests among others, Access Bank Ghana supported government’s Green Ghana Day initiative with 16,000 seedlings. The president’s call was to ensure the planting of 20 million tress in Ghana on June 10 2022, to help in restoring the nations depleted forest.
At a ceremony to officially mark the Green Ghana Day at the Efua Sutherland Children’s Park in Accra, the president of Ghana Nana Akuffo Addo shared some important facts about tress and called on every person living in Ghana to make tree planting a priority. “Trees provide humankind medicine, habitat for wildlife and microorganisms, regulate atmospheric temperature, serves as rain breaks, regulate atmospheric temperature and climate change to give us clean air, for good health” he said.
The president bemoaned the alarming rate of forest depletion in Ghana and said drastic actions must be taken to avert the negative effects on the ecology. “In the last decade alone, Ghana has lost 100,000 acres of natural forest, in addition to the economic value lost, adding that “85% of the population in Ghana rely on forest resources for their sustenance. One sure way to prevent climate crisis is through the preservation and developments of forests and other nature-based solutions”.
Managing Director of Access Bank Ghana joined the president of Ghana, Ministers of State, musician Stonebwoy and other organizations to plant commemorative trees, with replication across the country.
Mr. Olatunji expressed his excitement at the initiative, noting that conserving the environment is a collective responsibility that must be heeded to by all, to secure a sustainable future for both current and future generations. “The importance of conserving our environment can’t be overemphasized. The proverb that says ” The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now” should not be taken for granted. Trees sustain life therefore a call to replenish the depleted vegetation is in the right direction and must be supported. It is in this light that our Bank has supported the President’s call”, he said.
Mr. Abu Jinapor, Minister for Lands and Natural resources also shared insights into government’s efforts at restoring depleted vegetation and forest reserves.