https://www.myjoyonline.com/growing-coconut-trees-along-the-coast-can-stem-tsunamis-says-sherry-ayitey/-------https://www.myjoyonline.com/growing-coconut-trees-along-the-coast-can-stem-tsunamis-says-sherry-ayitey/
The growing of coconut trees across the coastal landscape of the country is crucial and a long term measure of stemming the tide of the devastation caused by global warming and climate change, Minister of Environment, Science and Technology Ms. Sherry Ayitey has said. She said the planting of coconut trees whiles serving its purpose of protecting the beaches would also serve as tourist attraction and create jobs for the teeming youth. Ms. Ayitey said the exercise is part of the ‘Better Ghana Agenda’ and that Employment is not only sitting at the ministry but participating in useful activities such as tree planting, noting the exercise has created over 5000 jobs for the unemployed. The Minister was speaking at a national Coastal Sanitation and Tree Planting Project last Friday at Oshieyie in the Ga South Municipality. The coconut tree planting project is embarked on by ACI Construction a private firm and in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment Science and Technology (MEST). Ms. Ayitey stated that due to the erratic nature of the weather caused by the climate change phenomenon, it has become imperative for the coast to be protected. The government, she said has therefore embarked on tree planting projects not only across the coast but across the country, adding that Ghana as a member of the UN, signed a treaty with the strategy to mitigate the effects of the climate change by planting more trees. We are planting coconut trees to save the coast from sea erosion whiles tropic trees are being planted to save the savannah regions from desertification, she said. Ms. Ayitey bemoaned the devastation climate change and global warming have caused to the sea to the extent that when fishermen go fishing they come with empty nets. She also criticised the pollution of the sea by human activities with sewerage and all manner of plastics and other toxics finding their way into the sea. The Minister was emphatic that with the new mentality and resolve on the part of government, the environment would be protected to serve generations yet unborn. She called on the ACI Construction to continue such a laudable project adding government will continue to assist in such ventures. According to the Minister, a monitoring team at the Ministry would constantly visit the beaches to monitor the progress of the coconut trees. On his part, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of ACI Construction Mr. Moses Punpuni said besides their construction activities they have in recent years engaged in greening activities and environmental conservation and undertaking afforestation and cleaning projects along the country’s beaches. He said they collaborate with the MEST and the National Youth and Employment programme to ensure the active involvement of the unemployed youth on most of their interventions. Mr. Punpuni said they have partnered with the with the Miss Earth pageant organisers to also use their contest to reach many Ghanaians about environmental awareness. “This should explain why ACI Construction decided to commit GHC 100,000.00 towards the successful organisation of this year’s Miss Earth Beauty pageant”. He stated that as part of their corporate social responsibility ACI Coastal Sanitation and restoration will be planting 500,000 seedlings of assorted trees along the coast from Greater Accra Region to the Volta Region. “As part of our Corporate Social Responsibility ACI Construction and Restoration will also renovate the community health centre at Bortianor at the cost of 100,000 Ghana cedis”, he said.

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