Green Ghana Day: Cocoa Abrabopa Association plants 1,500 trees
The Cocoa Abrabopa Association (CAA) planted 1,500 trees to help government achieve the objective of Greening with trees nursed by Form Ghana. Shade trees were supplied to 351 cocoa farmers being members of the association.
These farmers also received training on planting techniques and maintenance of the seedlings to increase the survival rates of the planted trees. Since 2009, CAA runs a shade tree seedling distribution and training program with its members. Up to date over 242,000 shade trees have been supplied to the members of the association for planting on their farms.
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On Green Ghana Day, the Association joined the rest of the subsidiary companies of the corporate founder Africa Tiger Holding Limited to mark the day, by collaborating with Cocoa farmers at Afosu and Ofoase – Ayirebi in the Eastern Region.
The objective of the tree planting exercise was to support government’s agenda of greening Ghana and also in memory of the late founder of Cocoa Abrabopa Association Mr. Henri Wientjes.
Their support, they believe, would help “Green Ghana” and preserve the ecosystem to aid the fight against the negative effects of climate change.
Currently, the country’s forest cover stood at 1.6 million hectares from 8.2 million hectares witnessed in the 1900s.
The Council Chairman of Cocoa Abrabopa Association (CAA), Mr. Ismail Pomasi said it’s important to restore the depleted forest cover, ravaged by negative human activities such as illegal mining and lumbering.
“We are supporting the government’s agenda; where trees we are planting today are economic trees.
We planted Mahogany, Emire, Mansonia Albizia and Otie trees. The rationale for this intervention is so that in planting the trees, we are also making an investment for our future children and our gallant cocoa farmers” he said.
Mr. Pomasi also used the occasion to educate the community on the importance of planting trees more importantly in their cocoa farms.
“We also believe that if more efforts are made towards protecting the existing tree populations across the country, it will reinforce government’s idea of planting new trees and growing them”, he added.
Mrs. Rebecca Ayisi Asiedu, Council Member Cocoa Abrabopa Association and Regional Representative for Eastern Region said it’s only collective efforts that can help us restore our degraded forest and reforest Ghana.
“Swift reforestation is critical. The goal of 5 million trees set by the Government of Ghana is very necessary, so we must all do our part.
There is no dispute that the woman farmer makes a vital contribution to the country’s economy; this is our time to help shape sustainable development in rural areas” she said to her colleague farmers.
The Operations Manager Mr. Andrew Roland Obosu and the Eastern Regional Manager for Cocoa Abrabopa Association Mr. Ebenezer Agbozo used the opportunity to thank the farmers for their continues support to policies and programs that will help restore and conserve forests and water bodies.
“As Managers at Cocoa Abrabopa Association, we are committed to enabling cocoa farmers in marginalised communities to alleviate the effects of climate change.
To achieve this, our projects will continue incorporate sustainable and livelihood enhancing practices” they said.
In attendance were also the Technical Coordinator (Ofoase – Ayirebi Operational Area) Mr. Samuel Kofi Sarfo, Child Development Officer of Cocoa Abrabopa Association (Kade, Ofase – Ayirebi Operational Area), Mr. Daniel Feda, and some cocoa farmers in the Eastern Region took part in 'Green Ghana Day' exercise.
