Nestle Ghana, a top food and beverage manufacturing company, has stepped up its commitment to environmental sustainability with the planting of over 100 trees in selected schools in Tema as well as the donation of sanitation equipment.

Under its employee volunteering program - Nestle Care, the company donated 20 smart-wash handwashing stations, 15 waste bins, gardening tools, among other items to the Tema Amahean Anglican and Community 8 (3&4) Cluster of Schools.

Students in these selected schools were sensitized on how to manage and segregate waste to help them stay safe from Covid-19 while contributing to help protect the environment by nurturing the trees and disposing of waste properly.

Madam Deborah Kwablah, Corporate Communications, and Public Affairs Manager at Nestle Ghana speaking at the ceremony highlighted the need to protect the environment in our everyday activities.

"At Nestle, we have committed to contribute to environmental sustainability through several actions. This exercise is not just about the trees and donation but to help imbibe in students’ positive actions and their relevance in environmental sustainability for their benefit and the future generation," she noted.

Madam Senam Segbefia, Headmistress of Tema Amahean Anglican JHS, in her welcome address said: "We are glad to Nestle Ghana for embarking on this tree planting exercise. Trees have always provided food and oxygen for mankind's survival, So I believe this exercise does reiterate the importance of trees to our students and the community as a whole.

"We will make sure the trees planted are well taken care of so that they will grow and serve as windbreaks, providing shade for our students as well as keeping the environment clean with sanitation materials donated.

Mr Ransford Nartey, a representative from the Tema Metro Education office who received the donated items thanked Nestle Ghana for their kind gesture and said items donated would promote hygienic living among students.

He urged students to properly take care of the items for their benefit and not to destroy the trees as they grow up.

This exercise by Nestle Ghana forms part of its commitments to support sustainable waste management solutions in Ghana under the coalition of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) of which Nestle is a founding member.