Ecobank commits to environmental sustainability
Ecobank Ghana has embarked on a tree planting exercise across 12 centres in five regions of the country as part of this year’s World Environment Day celebrations.
The initiative, aimed at planting 2,500 trees, was implemented in partnership with the Forestry Commission and would benefit over 20 institutions.
They included schools, churches and hospitals in Tema, Sakumono, Dodowa, Adenta, Madina, Kumasi, Sunyani, Tamale, Esiama, Tarkwa, Takoradi and Kasoa.
At one of the tree planting events in Accra, the Executive Director and Regional Head of Consumer Banking for Ecobank Ghana and Anglophone West Africa, Tara Squire, said the bank was committed to environmental sustainability as part of its core vision.
“Sustainability is at the core of Ecobank’s vision of building a world-class pan-African bank that contributes to the economic development and financial integration of Africa.
That is why we are committed to taking bold steps to reduce the carbon footprints of our operations and we do this by ensuring that our supply and procurement, building designs and energy usage are compatible with globally acceptable emission standards,” he stated.
Mr Squire revealed that the bank had recently invested the equivalent of $300,000 in support of e-mobility solutions, including electric vehicles, bikes, and infrastructure such as charging stations, to promote green transport and reduce emissions.
"Our drive is expected to improve urban transportation systems, stimulate job creation, and contribute to building a green economy," he added.
Benefits
Highlighting the environmental significance of the initiative, he explained that one large tree can provide a day’s supply of oxygen for up to four people, while a healthy tree can store 13 pounds of carbon annually.
He said for every 16,000 kilometers driven, approximately seven trees were needed to remove the equivalent amount of carbon dioxide produced, adding that the trees would serve multiple environmental functions including absorption of carbon dioxide and other harmful gases such as sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide, oxygen production and air quality improvement, temperature regulation, and provision of wildlife habitats.
Collective responsibility
The District Manager at the Greater Accra Regional Forestry Office, Dorcas Asiamah, commended Ecobank for supporting the national reforestation drive, known as the Tree for Life Initiative.
The Headmistress of The Light Academy, Shirley-Ann Boateng, said the exercise was more than the ceremonial planting of seeds and a bold declaration of collective responsibility to protect and preserve the environment for future generations.
She encouraged the students present to view the exercise as a call to action.
"Small actions such as planting trees have a lasting impact. Let this be the beginning of a lifelong commitment to environmental stewardship," she stated.