Mr. Alexander Nketia, Volta Regional Director of Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), has called on the citizenry to cultivate the habit of planting trees to safeguard the environment.

He said "Tree planting will help to care for the environment. They fix or replenishes atmospheric oxygen, an essential element of life hence the need to plant more trees."

Mr Nketia said this at a tree planting exercise to commemorate Emancipation Day at Tafi-Atome in the Afadjato South District.

The exercise is being organised in place of the usual Enactment of the crossing of the River Pra, which is held annually at Assin Praso in the Central Region.

The exercise saw the planting of 100 tree species and brought together traditional leaders, youth and officers of the Authority.

He said "the tree planting exercise will serve as a memorial for the COVID-19 pandemic, its attachments and restrictions as well as the opportunity to increase tree population."

Togbe Dabra, Chief of Tafi-Atome, expressed gratitude to the Authority for selecting the area as a beneficiary of such an important activity.

He said the community members would ensure proper care for the planted trees including; watering them to help them grow not only to beautify the town but also add to the already existing forest reserve.

Mr. Francis Acquaye, Manager, Tafi-Atome Monkey Sanctuary and Cultural Village Centre, said the exercise marked the continuation of an already initiated tree planting project in the community to bring more members on board to appreciate the essence of growing a tree.
He said the Centre would fence the newly planted trees with the help of the community members to make sure they were not destroyed by animals.

Mr Acquaye called on citizens to develop a culture of planting a tree, wherever they found themselves to beautify the environment adding that trees do not only provide shades but also have medicinal values.

The exercise, which was held under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, saw date palm, mango, blackberry, 'ator' and Afram varieties of trees planted.

The celebration was themed: "Emancipation, our heritage, our strength" and sub-themed: "Leveraging our resilience; Black lives matter".