KMA launches initiative to regenerate biodiversity of Kumasi

The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has performed a ceremony to outdoor its flagship “Keep Kumasi Clean and Green” project, as part of initiatives to regenerate the city’s biodiversity and environmental consciousness among the people.

The project, which was launched as part of activities marking this year’s World Environment Day celebration, is designed to promote an integrated and comprehensive approach towards tackling environmental sanitation issues in the metropolis.

Mr Osei Assibey-Antwi, the Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), stated at the launch that, the objective was to restore Kumasi to its former status as the ‘Garden City of West Africa’ while helping to sustain the ecology and biodiversity of the cultural city of the Ashanti Region.

An implementation committee, comprising civil society and religious organizations, traditional authorities and environmental youth groups has been set up to supervise the successful execution of the project.

The committee, chaired by Right Reverend Professor Osei Sarfo Kantanka, a former Methodist Bishop of the Kumasi Diocese, would be responsible for the supervision of planting of trees, installation of waste bins along the principal streets and creating environmental sanitation awareness amongst the people in Kumasi.

It would also be assisting the KMA to come out with innovative environmental responsive programmes for the benefit of the people and sustain the project.

Mr Assibey-Antwi said the Assembly has since last year planted over 10, 000 trees of varied species, including coconut and royal palm tree seedlings along some principal streets and water bodies.

This, he said, was in response to dealing with the changing climatic conditions, and explained that they were determined to resuscitate the depleting fauna and flora in the city, which brought life to the people.

Mr Anthony Mensah, who represented the Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Mr Joseph Kofi Adda, lauded the KMA for taking it upon itself to tidy up the city.

Touching on the commemoration of this year’s World Environment Day, he explained that the occasion was a clarion call on the citizenry to change their attitude towards environmental issues.

The Ministry, he said, would provide the Assembly with requisite logistical and technical support to boost its campaign of clean environment.

Mr Simon Osei-Mensah, Ashanti Regional Minister, took a swipe at those who littered the environment with impunity, saying the government would not condone indiscipline and would work to ensure that sanity prevailed in the Ghanaian society.

As part of the programme, two pick-up vehicles and four tricycles, as well as a number of waste bins donated by the Zoomlion Ghana Limited and other corporate organizations for the project were handed over to the KMA.