NGOs IMPROVE GREENERY OF TAMALE (PAGE 29)

A number of organisations in the Tamale metropolis have initiated moves to improve greenery in the area.
The initiative also forms part of strategies to protect the area from the devastating effects of floods.
The measures include tree-planting and educational campaigns on the need for residents to protect the environment.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in collaboration with Odeneho Consult, an advertising and events management company, as well as Dolan Ayana Mango Organic firm are the institutions that initiated the programme.
As a first step, the organisations have planted trees around three man-made dams located at Nyohini, Lamashegu and Builpela.
It is envisaged that the measure would protect the water sources.
Indeed, some parts of the metropolis including Vitting, Zogbeli, Lama Kara Ward E, Gumbihini were affected by the floods last year.
Any intervention must therefore be directed at those areas to prevent the occurrence of any disasters.
Residents in the beneficiary communities showed their appreciation by joining in the tree-planting exercise.
Some of them entreated other public-spirited organisations to initiate similar programmes to beautify the metropolis and protect the environment against degradation.
The city has on three consecutive occasions been adjudged the cleanest city in Ghana.
In July, this year, the Ghana Tourist Board conferred the title “cleanest city” on Tamale.
In 2005 and in May 2008, the metropolis was adjudged the neatest and the cleanest in the Savannah Zone category respectively.
It is therefore heart-warming that some institutions have complemented the efforts of the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly to help beautify the sprawling metropolis.
The Events Manager of Odeneho Consult, Mr Adam Abdul Basit, called on the beneficiary communities to support the project in order that it does not become “a nine-day wonder”.
He also expressed the need to conserve the environment and called on residents to engage in voluntary tree-planting to protect the area from floods and drought.