Keta: The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), in partnership with the Forestry Commission's Anloga-Keta branch in the Volta Region, has spearheaded a significant tree-planting exercise in selected basic schools as part of the 'Tree for Life' initiative.
According to Ghana News Agency, the event was initially scheduled for Friday, June 5, to commemorate World Environment Day under the theme 'Forest and Economies' and Sustainable Growth Through Tree Crop Investment.' Madam Lina Elinam Bensah, the Keta Municipal NCCE Director, shared in an interview that the initiative brought together the Forestry Commission staff, teachers, pupils, and community members to plant a mix of palm and mahogany seedlings across the school compounds involved.
"The joint action aimed to instill environmental consciousness and civic responsibility among the young learners. We received a total of 200 trees, including 150 Mahogany and 50 palm seedlings," she stated. Madam Bensah highlighted that these species were chosen for their ecological benefits and potential to provide shade and future economic value to the schools and the community at large.
The schools benefiting from this initiative included Norlivime Basic 1 and 2, Dzelukope Evangelical Presbyterian (EP) basic school, Dzelukope Roman Catholic (RC) basic, Ketasco Basic 1 and 2, and Vodza Roman Catholic (RC) basic, among others. "Pupils from the various schools actively participated in the planting, and we taught them the proper techniques for planting and caring for the saplings to mature well to serve a purpose," Madam Bensah added, urging pupils to view the trees as living legacies of their civic duty.
Mr. Hope Avulete, Assistant Forestry Commissioner at Anloga-Keta Forestry, underscored the importance of early engagement with children, noting that it fosters long-term behavioral change. He emphasized that follow-up monitoring and maintenance by schools and communities would be critical to ensuring high survival rates for the planted trees.
Headteachers from various beneficiary schools welcomed the exercise and promised to integrate tree-care activities into school routines and clubs, highlighting the dual benefits of enhancing school environments and teaching practical lessons in biology and sustainability.
Community leaders praised the collaboration between the NCCE and the Forestry Commission and called for sustained support from parents, traditional authorities, and local authorities to protect the seedlings from grazing and vandalism. Environmental advocates in the municipality further encouraged more agencies and private organizations to replicate such programs, noting that community-based tree planting in schools contributes to climate resilience, improves air quality, and nurtures the next generation of environmentally conscious citizens.