A ceremony held via Zoom to plant a common tree to climax the planting of 40,000 trees in demarcated areas of the Kwadaso Municipality, under the Municipal Climate Partnership, between Kwadaso Municipal Assembly and Neu-Isenburg in Germany has been held at Edwenase in Kumasi.
The Kwadaso-Neu Isenburg project, which started in 2019, is purely a Municipal Climate Partnership with a focus on aforestation, renewable energies, sensitization on sustainable waste management and the establishment of fair trade.
To climax the fifth year of planting about 40,000 trees within the Kwadaso Municipality, the two sister-cities decided to plant a common tree, the Silk Tree, known locally as ‘Awiemfuo Samena’, the symbol of the partnership and which has the potential of surviving under the climate in Ghana and also in Germany.
Mr. Richmond Agyenim Boateng, the Municipal Chief Executive observed that the tree planting project, under the Municipal Climate Partnership, has created forests at Yaa Asantewaa SHS, AAMUSTED campus, and planted trees at Nzema Community Day SHS and almost all schools within Kwadaso, including the schools in the barracks, as well as the road median from Sofoline to Abuakwa Kasapreko.
He explained that the “simultaneous planting of a common tree in Kwadaso and Neu-Isenburg as a symbol of our partnership and common goal also reminds us all of our responsibility in relation to the climate change”, and added that “let us continue to work together to make a difference in the fight against climate change”.
The Mayor of Neu-Isenburg, Mr. Dirk Gene Hagelstein, said the planting of a common tree was to cement the Kwadaso-Neu Isenburg partnership and to climax the planting of 40,000 trees by 2024.
He stated that the Municipal Climate Partnership is not only about tree planting, but also to help in other areas such as providing schools and health facilities within Kwadaso with beds, solar power and water.
Mr. Osei-Wusu Karikari, the Co-ordinator of the project, in an interview disclosed that the funding from the City of Neu-Isenburg is about 240,000 Euros, which started in 2022 and that about 10,000 seedlings, including species like Royal Palm, indigenous trees like acacia and cindela are being planted this year to complete the 40,000 trees earmarked under the partnership.
About 10,000 seedlings, including economic trees like mangoes and coconut trees, would be planted under the last phase of the project.
He explained that the main purpose of the partnership is to reduce the temperatures and increase oxygen in the atmosphere and stated that, “we are identifying homes of those who want to plant coconut trees in their houses and supply them with the seedlings and monitor that the coconut trees will survive in their homes”.
Nana Wiredu Akokoro Panini III, Atwima Denchemuoso Odikro and Atwima Akwamuhene, who represented the Atwimahene said the Municipal Climate Partnership is a brilliant idea and appealed to residents to the Kwadaso Municipality to embrace the project to plant and nurture a tree.
From Thomas Agbenyegah Adzey, Kwadaso
