By Jones Anlimah
Traditional leaders in the Abutia Traditional Area are calling on government agencies, NGOs, and environmental stakeholders to rally behind efforts to improve the Kalakpa Resource Reserve—an initiative they say will create jobs for the youth and boost the local economy.
“It’s our appeal, a passionate appeal on behalf of the chiefs and people of Abutia,” said Togbega Abutia Kodzo Gidi V, Paramount Chief of the area. “We believe that improving Kalakpa Resource Reserve will attract investment from both public and private institutions, create jobs, and uplift the image of Kalakpa.”
The call was made during a community-wide tree planting exercise in Abutia, in support of government’s “Tree for Life” initiative, which aims to plant 30 million trees across the country to combat climate change and promote environmental sustainability.
“We know trees are life. We can’t live without the environment, and we can’t continue cutting down trees without replacing them,” Togbega stated. “We are educating communities to create a green belt around schools, clinics, and other public spaces. Any unused land for the next 10 to 15 years can be covered by trees,” Togbega Kodzo Gidi V stated.
Over 5,000 seedlings are expected to be planted across the traditional area, including species such as acacia, and fruit crops like coconut, mango, and orange.
Youth leaders across the communities have been tasked with leading maintenance efforts—fencing, watering, and monitoring the trees to ensure their survival and maturity. Togbega emphasized the need for additional resources like manure and fertilizers to enhance the growth of the tree crops.
The District Chief Executive for Ho West, Profer Francis Dussey, also lent his support to the campaign, stressing the need for sustained attention to the Kalakpa Reserve. “Kalakpa Reserve is a resource to all the reserves we have in this country. There is a need for the whole district to ensure that we protect this reserve,” Profer Dussey said. “We are not just planting trees; we are growing them. The youth will protect and water them to ensure that they germinate,” he added
He noted that the district plans to meet with the reserve management to integrate the tree planting exercise into the reserve and to ensure that residents within the reserve boundaries also participate in the exercise.
The tree planting activity in Abutia is part of Ghana’s broader strategy to mitigate climate change and promote environmental stewardship through the nationwide “Tree for Life” campaign.
2 Responses
A program we all have to rally behind.
Abutia to the world.
Well done, Abutia also matters.