Otumfuo Osei Tutu II
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, is set to plant 2.5 million trees as part of a landscape restoration project around Lake Bosomtwe in the Ashanti Region.
A statement, issued at Manhyia in Kumasi and jointly signed by Lawrence Akwasi Prempeh, private secretary to Asantehene, and Fred Kwesi Sarpong of the Oheneba Poku Foundation, said “Otumfuo made the announcement during the celebration of the Akwasidae Festival at Manhyia on Sunday, July 14, 2019.”
According to the statement, the massive project involves the planting of 2.5 million trees to cover 4000 hectares over a five-year period.
The release said a tripartite agreement had been signed between UNESCO, the Ministry of Water Resource, Works and Housing and Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, the Custodian of Lake Bosomtwe.
“Ghana’s only natural lake, Lake Bosomtwe, has since 2016 been designated a biosphere reserve site by the United Nation Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to promote healthy balance between biodiversity conservation and its sustainable use. The move is said to be a response to the appeal made by Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, for the protection of the lake,” it said.
“The project is envisioned to contribute to Ghana’s environmental protection efforts, to the fight against climate change, to Ghana’s pledge to Bonn Challenge and as well improve tourism around the Lake Bosomtwe,” the statement emphasized.
The project which is a partnership between Oheneba Poku Foundation and Manhyia Palace has the Forestry Commission of Ghana, Environmental Protection Agency, Water Resources Commission, Ghana Tourism Authority, UNESCO, District Assemblies of Bosome-Freho and Bosomtwe, as well as the Lake Bosomtwe Community Resource Management Areas (CREMA), among other stakeholders.
According to the release, “The project would adopt multiple schemes for the planting of trees, particularly a mixture of agro-forestry which would liaise with individual farmers to integrate trees on their farmlands and manage them and pure plantation approaches.”
“In general terms, indigenous tree species will be planted in the area to at least restore the cultural heritage. As much as possible, mixed stands will be adopted to improve biodiversity of the restored area,” it said.
The release indicated that the Otumfuo tasked Nana Adu Mensah Asare, Amakomhene, to chair the Implementation Committee to ensure a seamless and successful implementation of the project.
It also said Mr. Sarpong announced that awareness would be created in all communities around the lake on the importance of tree planting, environmental protection and effects and solutions of climate change causes.