An eight-member committee has been inaugurated in Accra to lead government’s project to green cities and towns to improve their aesthetics and beauty.
Dubbed the Green Street Project, it was being undertaken by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources in partnership with the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Decentralisation.
The Committee, co-chaired by the Deputy Ministers of Lands and Natural Resources, and Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, Benito Owusu-Bio and Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah respectively, included representatives from the Department of Urban Roads, Forestry Commission, Ghana Highway Authority, Department of Urban Roads, Department of Parks and Gardens, Zoomlion Ghana Limited and Mullen Lowe.
Inaugurating the committee yesterday, Mr Samuel A. Jinapor, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, said the committee was to oversee to the planning and implementation of the Green Street Project which was set to commence immediately.
He tasked the members of the committee to act virtuously in helping the government to accomplish its aims for the project.
Discussing the rationale behind the Green Street Project, he stated that the prevailing circumstances, relative to climatic conditions as well as government’s bid to beautify the nation’s cities and towns, necessitated the birth of the project.
The Minister explained that while the Green Ghana Project was government’s flagship afforestation programme, the Green Street Project would focus on the growth of trees to improve the aesthetics of the cities and towns.
“A look around some of the major cities across the worldreveals an intentional planting of particular types of trees to add to the aesthetics of the city. London in the United Kingdom, Paris in France, and to some extent, Cairo in Egypt, Abuja in Nigeria, and Abidjan in Cote D’Ivoire, are just a few examples.
“Government has, therefore, decided to implement this Ghana Green Street Project, as part of measures to beautify our cities and contribute to global climate action. The overarching objective of this Project is to plant appropriate tree species capable of providing both aesthetic view and environmental related benefit for a healthy and sustainable world,” he added.
He noted that the government had taken notice of the quality of air in the major cities and believed that greening the cities was a definite way of improving it.
Mr Jinapor tasked the committee to deliberately select specific tree species which could perform the dual role of improving the environment and making the cities pleasing to the eye.
The first phase of the project, according to him, would see to the planting of selected trees on principal streets in the major cities of Accra, Kumasi, Tamale and Sekondi-Takoradi before being extended to the sixteen regional capitals.
He charged the committee to identify principal or major streets and avenues in the cities where trees would be planted and develop detailed strategy, work plan and budget for the project, including strategies for nurturing and protecting the trees planted.
On his part, Mr Owusu-Bio welcomed the responsibility handed them and assured that the committee would discharge its duties to utmost satisfaction.
Mr Korsah said the partnership between his Ministry and the other Ministries, Departments and Agencies involved in the project was an indication of the willingness of government institutions to work together for the growth of the country.
BY CLAUDE NYARKO ADAMS
