Gold And Silver Awards For Ghana

Ghana has won two awards for environmental best practices at a prestigious ceremony hosted by the British Trade Secretary, Patricia Hewitt, at the House of Commons,

The awards were presented by the Green Apple organisation of the UK, an independent, non-political, non-activist, non-profit environment group dedicated to recognising, rewarding and promoting environmental best practices around the world.

The gold award went to Ahyirensu Naturalist Centre (ANC) at Aburi which nurses 50 acres of land to improve Ghana’s complex eco-systems through cultivation of native medicinal plants, preservation of threatened rare species and improved food crop and fish farming.

The silver award went to the Okyeman Environment Foundation which, among other things, runs an annual environment week in all settlements of Akyem Abuakwa; an activity which had helped to raise awareness and ensured proper management and development of a local environment through education and creation of eco-friendly related neighbourhoods.

Mr. Edward Danso, Director of the ANC accompanied by Mr. Kwabena Baah-Duodu, Deputy High Commissioner, received the award on behalf of his organisation, while the latter, assisted by Nana Duodu, Pusupusuhene of Akyem Abuakwa received the award on behalf of the Okyeman Environment Foundation from Mr. Simon Fordhan, Head of Environment of the Royal Society of Arts.

Commenting on the awards, Mr. Kwabena Baah-Duodu, Deputy High Commissioner, praised the Green Apple organisation for recognising the role being played by the nation’s environmental groups. He was optimistic that the awards would inspire other environmentalists in the search for solutions to issues on the environment plaguing third would countries, especially Africa. He noted that it was an honour for Ghana to be the only African country to have produced award winners this year.