Management and staff of the Western Regional office of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) have embarked on tree planting exercises on its regional premises and some selected Senior High Schools (SHS) in and around the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis (STMA).
The exercise forms part of the Company’s global effort to help conserve some threatened plant species such as terminalia ivorensis and guaiacum officinale, known widely for their healing properties and widely used in the treatment of rheumatism, ulcers, kidney problems and wounds, and for the treatment of arthritis, syphilis and cough respectively.
Staff of the Company in the Region were joined by two management members from its Head Office in Accra to plant a total of 1,000 seedlings of the identified species in selected schools such as the St. Mary’s Boys Senior High School in Apowa and the Archbishop Porter Girls Senior High School in Fijai, near Takoradi.
Ing. Emmanuel Justice Ofori, Acting Western Regional Manager of ECG explained that the Company’s choice of Senior High Schools for the exercise was to find a place of refuge for the threatened species.
“Most schools have policies aimed at protecting wild trees even in times of new infrastructural development. One cannot find a better place to hide them than in such places”, he indicated.
He added that apart from beautifying the environment, trees also help in reducing stress on persons who spend time among them, and also improves the quality of air we breathe by filtering harmful substances such as carbon monoxide and sulphur-dioxide.
“Our health depends mostly on these trees, and we need to do our best to ensure they survive acts of deforestation”, he pointed out.
Mr Ben Quacoo, Western Regional Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the ECG also noted how their activities sometimes affect the wild birds hence, the ECG’s efforts to ensure they were also protected from danger.
“Wild birds who mistake our high rise poles and pylons for trees sometimes get electrocuted when they seek to prepare their nests on parts of these metal works. More trees will mean more homes for such wildlife who may keep away from our energized lines and their supporting infrastructure”, he said.
Mr Quacoo maintained that it is our collective desire to protect wildlife and enhance the country’s natural environment at all times.
The exercise, which also formed part of the Government of Ghana’s efforts to raise awareness on conservation and development of wildlife, preceded this year’s World Environment Day which fell on Friday, 11th June, 2021.
