The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) is planting 1000 trees in Tema in support of the national Green Ghana project.

The tree planting exercise which has already commenced will cover areas within the port of Tema enclave as well as a few residential areas within the Tema township.

The Authority is partnering a non-governmental organization, Coastal Conservancy Organization for the planting exercise.

The tree planting exercise coincides with GPHA’s ISO and Environment week.

Speaking at GPHA’s symbolic launch of their tree planting campaign, the Director General of the Authority, Michael Luguje stated GPHA’s commitment to the nation’s green agenda.

He said, “we need trees to ensure we contain global warming and its negative effects. So we support this laudable initiative.”

The Minister of Transport, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, in a speech read on his behalf by his deputy, Frederick Obeng Adom, called for continuous nursing of the plants to increase their chances of survival.

He added, “there is a popular saying that when the last tree falls, the last man dies. This is something we must all work to prevent. Let us all get involved to make sure that as we leave here we cultivate the habit of making sure we make Ghana green.”

Last year the President of Ghana, Nana Addo, launched the Green Ghana project as a deliberate effort to encourage afforestation.

The Minister said, out of 7 million trees planted last year, 6.3 million have survived.

He said this year’s target is 20 million trees.