The Managing Director of Ecobank Ghana, Dan Sackey has called for an increase in investment into government’s afforestation agenda from corporate Ghana.
Mr. Sackey stated that afforestation can support government’s goal of making Accra the most beautiful and cleanest city in Africa.
Speaking at an event to commemorate World Environment Day (June 5, 2018), Mr. Sackey said effective afforestation can guarantee future food production for the country.
“If Ecobank takes a portion of Accra, another bank takes another portion and other corporate entities decide to take other portions then together we can contribute resources to make the tree planting and afforestation efforts of the authorities a success. The Accra Metropolitan Assembly on its own might not have the resources, but we come in with the resources as well as the people.”
Touching on the impact of afforestation on the economy, he maintained that Ghana will be preferred place for green economic investment.
“If the culture of tree planting spreads from one person to a family and possibly an entire group, then we can say that we are making progress when it comes to dealing with the issue of deforestation”.
He added that “we can restore the greenery that we have then. We are in a better position to guarantee future food production and when future food production is assured, we are taking care of our future generation who can be our future clientele.”
Mr. Sackey was joined by Hajia Samira Bawumia, Second Lady of the Republic of Ghana, the Mayor of Accra Metropolitan Assembly, Mohammed Adjei Sowah, among others to mark World Environment Day at a ceremony at St. Thomas Aquinas Senior High School in Accra.
The team planted trees to mark its ‘Planting today. Protecting tomorrow.’ initiative which is part of a strategy to save the planet for future generations.
In her concluding remarks, the Second Lady of the Republic of Ghana, Mrs. Samira Bawumia urged Ghanaians to protect the environment they live in.
“The remarkable relationship of mutual coexistence and harmony between man and the environment requires that we make every effort to preserve our environment and our ecosystem. This is our duty and responsibility as custodians of this planet and we do this not only for ourselves but also for posterity. Our lives and the lives of future generations depend largely on the actions we take today. The time to act is now. Let’s protect the environment,” she said.
Senior Executives of Ecobank and its partners also advised some students of St. Thomas Aquinas Senior High School to be environmentally conscious, as they donated seedlings for the tree planting exercise, as well as bins for a cleaner environment.
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By: Bobbie Osei/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana