Kumasi, June 23, GNA - Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, Member of Parliament (MP) for Kwadaso in Kumasi, on Monday launched a Teak Seedlings Planting Project for basic schools in his constituency to replenish the vegetative cover removed by human activities.

He said the project, which cost 3,000 Ghana cedis, has the aim of providing 40 basic schools with 15,000 teak seedlings for planting during the rainy season and that 9,000 seedlings had already been distributed.

Dr Akoto said 15,000 trees could fetch the constituency over 750,000 Ghana cedis when mature and that the amount would be channelled into construction and rehabilitation of school buildings At the launch Dr Akoto said the project sought to involve pupils in the constituency to plant trees on school compound to beautify the environment and also serve as wind brakes He said the project would be carried out by way of assigning each pupil to adopt specific number of trees for planting and nurturing until it grows to maturity whiles the school authorities play the supervisory roles.

Dr Akoto said the project was brought to fruition because of the able assistance of many institutions and individuals including the Kwadaso sub-metro council and Mrs Rhodaline Sekyerewaa a philanthropist. The MP however expressed dissatisfaction about the rampant felling of trees in the area and called on the various stakeholders to regenerate the forest cover.

Mrs Edith Abrokwah, the Ashanti Regional Manager of the Forest Division of the Forestry Commission, made a firm pledge to help in the constant supply of seedlings to make the project a success.