Don't politicize Nkrumah's centenary tree planting exercise - Samia

Accra, May 19, GNA - Ghanaians have been advised against the politicization of the trece-planting exercise launched by Kick Malaria Out of Africa, a non-governmental organization (NGO), to mark the centenary birthday of Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana's first President Madam Samia Nkrumah, daughter of the ex-President, who is the Member of Parliament for Jomoro, made the appeal when officials of the NGO called on her in Accra on Tuesday, to outline their plans for the exercise.

She said her father's vision was to unite all Ghanaians irrespective of their affiliations and where they hailed from. Madam Samia Nkrumah lauded the plans of the NGO and stressed the importance of trees in ensuring an ecological balance and to protect the environment.

She appealed to all communities to embrace the exercise and said she would support the programme. Mr. Kwabena Oseei Bonsu, Chief Executive Officer of the NGO, who led the delegation, said about 11,000 tree-seedlings had been planted since the exercise began a week ago.

He said the exercise that was aimed at honouring the "Great son of Ghana and Africa was also to support the country's afforestation programme."

Mr Osei Bonsu called on Ghanaians especially school children and students to participate actively in the exercise and to nurture tree-seedlings to mature The exercise would end on September 21, the birthday of Dr Nkrumah.