NPA ladies plant 830 mahogany seedlings

Members of the National Petroleum Authority Ladies Association (NAPET) have planted 830 mahogany seedlings on a hectare of degraded land within the Chipa Forest Reserve at Kordiabe in the Greater Accra Region. 

It formed part of efforts to reverse the negative impact of climate change on the environment, and also demonstrated the association’s commitment to environmental sustainability and community well-being.

The initiative also aligns with Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goals One, Three and 13, which focuses on poverty, health and climate action, respectively.

Significance

The President of NAPET, Victoria Nipah, said the trees would provide numerous benefits, including shade and improved air quality, among others, adding "trees refresh the air, they give shade, and also help our mental health".

She explained that the association partnered the Forestry Commission to identify the best trees to plant to ensure the success of the initiative.

The president further said the association had made provisions for the maintenance of the trees to ensure their survival.

"We have supported the Forestry Commission to do their best to maintain the trees to ensure that they grow," she said, adding that members would intermittently visit the site to monitor progress.

Mrs Nipah acknowledged the invaluable support of their parent company, the National Petroleum Authority, and its successive chief executives, who she said had championed their various initiatives.

Appreciation

The District Manager of the Tema Ada Forest District, Linda Ansah, expressed gratitude to the association for their timely intervention.

She said the government efforts were not enough to restore degraded forests, hence the need for support from corporate bodies such as the NPA to restore degraded reserves like Chipa.

The manager, therefore, entreated other corporate entities to join hands with the commission in similar environmental initiatives to help preserve the country’s reserves.