Twifo Hemang (C/R), June 21, GNA - More than 500 school children from basic schools in the Twifo-Hemang-Lower Dankyira District on Friday planted trees to mark the District Arbour week celebration at Hemang. The celebration, marked by tree planting, under the theme: "Healing the Water Bodies" was organised by the Twifo Praso Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church.

Addressing the gathering, Mr Samuel Agyeibi-Kesse, the District Chief Executive (DCE) expressed concern over the rate at which water bodies were being depleted. He therefore appealed to communities to be watch dogs of these precious resources and to ensure that the abundance and quality of water is not diminished as a result of its activities. Mr Agyeibi-Kesse said one of the surest ways to protect the water bodies is to plant trees.

Tree planting, he said, is more important now than ever since many trees must be planted to keep up with the loss of forests to land clearing, for an urban development. He said: when celebrating the Arbour Week, we must place emphasis on tree planting to show hope for the future."

Mr Agyeibi-Kesse appealed to the children to maintain the trees being planted and ensure that "our thought on Arbour Week should be an expression of enduring feeling and action." Otumfo Amoa Sasraku II, Omanhene of Twifo Hemang Traditional Area, who presided over the function stressed the need for all stakeholders to organise periodic durbars to sensitise people on the importance of Arbour Day.