The Northern Advocacy Center for Peace and Climate Change (NACPaCC), a nongovernmental organization, has donated 200 tree seedlings to St Charles Lwanga Basic School at Malshegu in the Kumbungu district to commemorate the 2021 global Desertification and Drought Day in the northern region on Thursday (17 June, 2021).  

The seedlings consist of 50 Cashew plants, 50 Mangoes, 50 Umbrella and 50 Accasia were presented to the Headmistress of the School to be planted around the school environment.

The organization also presented copies of learning books with title; “Thick Tall Tress” to St James R/C Basic School at Daboagshei in the Tamale metropolis received from A ROCHA Ghana. These interventions were geared towards raising awareness about the global campaign against drought and desertification.

Chief Executive Officer of the Northern Advocacy Center for Peace and Climate Change, Mr. Mahama Saani said solving the issues of land degradation is achievable through strong community involvement and cooperation.

He lauded the government of Ghana for introducing the Green Ghana Project to plant about 5 million varieties of trees across the country and further commended Ghanaians for the high level of participation during the exercise on June 11, 2021.

He disclosed in partnership with the Forestry Commission of Ghana, NACPaCC gave out and supervised the planting of 3, 400 seedlings in Schools, Communities and Corporate Organizations.

He explained the continuity of the Green Ghana Project will restore the dignity and health of the degraded lands in the country, emphasizing this would bring economic resilience, job creation, raises incomes and increase food security in Ghana.

However, Mr. Mahama Saani urged the government to provide more support to the Environment Protection Agency, the Forestry Commission and its Civil Society partners to ensure the public access to more varieties of seedlings.

He further implored the government to move beyond a day for the Green Ghana Project and declare the month of June as the national month for the campaign just as it is being done in other countries such as South Africa.

“It helps biodiversity to recover, it locks away the atmospheric carbon warming the earth, slowing climate change and can also lessen the impact of climate change and underpin a green recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic” Mr. Saani added.

He therefore, called on Ghanaians and the global community to treat land as limited and precious natural capital and prioritize its health in the era of the global pandemic recovery.