Bongo (UE), July 30, GNA- The Bongo Traditional Council and the National Service Personal Association (NASPA) at the weekend undertook a tree planting exercise in the Bongo District of the Upper East Region.

The 120 seedlings transplanted were provided by the Bongo Traditional Council through “the Green Bongo Project”.

The Paramount Chief of Bongo, Naba Baba Alemyarum Salifu, commended NASPA for partnering with his people to plant the trees and noted that the tress that which were planted at the Catholic Social Centre football grounds would provide shade for school children and teachers during festivities such as independence anniversary celebration and sporting activities.

“In fact, it is regrettable that school children, teachers and the general public among others stand in the sun during festivities at the park. It is hoped that the trees will provide shade for them”.

The Paramount Chief stated the since 2008 when the traditional council embarked upon tree planting under the “Green Bongo Project”, over 150,000 tress had since been planted with a survival rate of 60 per cent.

He noted that his ambition was to help reverse surging desertification in the area and had secured over 1000 grafted mango seedlings which would be distributed to communities and institutions to be planted and effectively monitored to ensure their survival.

Naba Alemyarum stated that through bye-laws passed by the traditional council on bush fire, the practice had reduced drastically and said for the past two years the area had not had any bushfires.

“The Ghana National Fire Service rewarded the Bongo area for not recording any bush fire”, he stated.

The District Coordinator of NASPA, Mr Stephen Kwadan-Nab, said they decided to make tree planting part of the annual NASPA celebration in the District since environmental degradation by human activities was so rampant in the area.

“It is the wish of NASPA to leave a very good legacy by planting trees and nurturing them to grow for posterity and we will continue to partner with the traditional council and other organizations to plant more trees every year in the District”, he added.