Minister commends Gomoa Akyempim Zongo Chief for tree planting initiative

The Central Regional Minister, Mr Kwamena Duncan has commended the Zongo Chief for Gomoa Akyempim, Tahirou Awudu Zaaki for initiating a tree planting exercise that currently employs over 200 youth in the community.

Mr Duncan described the initiative as a valuable project that needs support for further expansion considering the fact that it plays a significant role in world climate affairs .

The Minister explained that the tree planting initiative couldn’t have come at a more opportune time when scientific and environmental bodies across the world urge tree planting as one of the ways to combat climate change .

He made the comment when the chief and his entourage paid a courtesy call on him at his office last Friday .

He said governments all over the world are undertaking similar projects imploring other chiefs in the region to lead by such examples by taking up programmes that may be local in scope but international in nature.

Mr Duncan said chiefs play an important role in empowering their people and the development of their communities and Mr Tahirou has proven to be an exemplary figure in his effort to promote national development.

He said over the years, some traditional rulers have used their meager resources to mobilize their people to undertake crucial developmental projects in their communities.

According to him , this includes the provision of infrastructural facilities, education, ensuring peace and security for their people, engaging in sister-communities relationship, as well as creating an enabling environment for foreign investors and investments to thrive .

Chief Tahirou in a brief remark thanked the Minister for the warm reception and urged him to support other worthy projects undertaken by chiefs and individuals which has the potential to create meaningful impact in the lives of the people .

He said being an avid environmentalist, he chose to focus on issues that affect his surroundings thus taking up the initiative explaining that trees play a crucial role in our lives and the environment .

“We may be a small community but we are striving hard to ensure we are not left out in making the lives of our people and the country better ,” he stated .

He noted that the tree planting initiative is just one of the many social investment programmes essential to sustainable community development indicating that he is ready to engage other stakeholders who share similar vision.

Chief Tahirou Awudu also used the occasion to express gratitude for the government’s intervention programmmes like the Planting for Food and Jobs which he said has been beneficial to the youth in his area.