We have received the following report on a major tree-planting effort in Ghana. This came from LWCCN member Rev. Ebenezer Yaw Blasu: (note, this was a pre-event announcement, but the event was successfully concluded according to news reports):
Here In Ghana, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Samuel Abu Jinapor has launched the Green Ghana Programme as part of activities to mark this year’s International Day of Forest. The initiative will take place on June 11, 2021. This period coincides with the major rains in the Southern regions of the country for natural watering accessibility. A total of five million trees are expected to be planted on the day across Ghana. It will form part of effort to encourage Ghanaians to plant more trees to preserve and protect Ghana’s forest cover and the environment. The initiative is planned as a joint responsibility for which more broad-based support is needed including Faith based organisations and individuals. Thus, Christians, churches, and para-church groups are vigorously involved, encouraging the active participation of local community churches and their members.
It is only for historical purpose that a date is chosen to plant five million trees. The main aim, however, is to help raise national consciousness of the need to protect the environment and the forests. Therefore, the planting exercise as awareness and motivational campaign could start earlier depending on the rain availability. On Friday 4th June 2021 when the first rains started at Sokpoe in the South Tongu District of the Volta Region, the local (Langhorst) congregation of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana at Sokpoe decided to begin the Campaign with their school children. The idea was to ‘Catch them young’ with a Christian motivation for creation care so they will not depart from it growing up (Prov. 22:6). The author of African Theocology: Studies in African Religious Creation Care, the Rev. Dr. Ebenezer Yaw Blasu, who led the campaign explained that, at Sokpoe, the outdooring rites performed on the 8th day after birth ecologically grounds and primes babies for creation care. Yet no practical actions follow the babies growing up to enable them to live out what the rituals of outdooring expect of them. Hence, launching this year’s tree planting campaign in the basic schools is in the right direction. He encouraged the pupils to nurture the seedlings and water them at least once a week on their day of birth.
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