Telecel Ghana has extended its ongoing reforestation initiative to the Ashanti Region, with over 40 employee volunteers from across the region joining forces with schoolchildren from the Pra River Islamic Junior High School to plant 3,000 indigenous seedlings in the South Formangso Forest Reserve.

The reforestation activity, organised as part of Telecel Ghana’s Ashanti Month celebrations in June, will help restore forest cover at the reserve depleted by illegal chainsaw logging and illicit crop farming activities from adjoining communities.

The South Formangso Forest Reserve is located in Juaso within the Asante Akim South Municipal District of the region.

In partnership with the Forestry Commission, the latest tree planting effort brings to 33,000 the total number of trees planted by the telecommunications giant at the Achimota, Chipa and South Formangso forest reserves as part of its commitment to environmental sustainability and to complement the government’s Tree for Life initiative.

Charles Ackom, the assistant district manager of the Juaso Forest District, which oversees nine forest reserves across three districts, said the reserves were under severe threat from human activities; hence, more reforestation initiatives can help turn the tide.

“As a country, we have a collective duty to enforce carbon credits to tackle global warming through tree planting, preserving forests and reducing carbon emissions.

"Telecel Ghana’s tree planting sends a strong message that will inspire individuals, businesses and communities to take an interest in reforestation.

"South Formangso is one of the reserves affected by depletion, so we welcome this collaboration with Telecel Ghana,” Mr. Ackom said.

The volunteers planted seedlings of Terminalia ivorensis and Terminalia superba, known in the dominant Akan language as ‘Emire’ and ‘Ofram’ respectively, as these species are commercially valuable native hardwoods known for their resilience and ecological benefits to the reserve.

Legal and External Affairs Director at Telecel Ghana, Augusta Andrews, said the initiative is a commitment to building sustainable communities.

“As a responsible business, our sustainability initiatives are key to our long-term strategy of building a sustainable future for customers and future generations.

"Our operations require the use of wooden poles to bring connectivity to our customers, so this initiative ensures that we are replacing what we take from the environment.”

With climate change and land degradation threatening food security and livelihoods, the need for reforestation has never been more urgent. Municipal Environmental Health Analyst, Richard Adjei, who represented the municipal chief executive, said the tree-planting initiative would yield long-term benefits for communities and the country.

“We are pleased that Telecel Ghana understands the scope of tree planting and has come to augment the ongoing reforestation effort in the reserves.

"This will help with environmental sustainability and biodiversity for wildlife. Reforestation should be a priority for everyone, and we believe this example will educate and promote tree planting.”