J.J. Rawlings Foundation plants trees in remembrance of former President

The Jerry John Rawlings (J.J. Rawlings) Foundation last Saturday planted trees in remembrance and celebration of what would have been the 74th birthday of the former President, who passed away on Thursday, November 12, last year.

It was also meant to raise awareness of the need to protect and preserve the environment, which were ideals of the former President.

The initiative was also in line with the government’s Green Ghana project, a nationwide tree planting campaign led by the Lands and Natural Resources Ministry and the Forestry Commission (FC).

In all, more than 900 trees were planted on the over two-acre land demarcated for the exercise at Achimota School.

Among the tree species planted were mahogany, milletia, ceiba, montalis, neem and coconut.

The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Samuel Abu Jinapor, who was present at the event, donated GH¢50,000 to support the foundation’s activities.

Exercise

As early as 7 a.m., the members of the foundation and volunteers had assembled at the Achimota School Cadet Square, where a display by the school’s cadet corps kick-started the exercise.

Present were members of the Rawlings family, led by a former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings; the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Buem, Mr Kofi Adams; a former Deputy General Secretary of the NDC and Chief Executive Officer of the Atta Mills Institute, Mr Samuel Koku Anyidoho; members of the Diplomatic Corps, politicians, officials and staff of the FC, students of Achimota School and some friends of the late former President.

Mr Jinapor, who shared his personal experience of the late President Rawlings, said conversations about botany and zoology always took centre stage anytime he visited the former President.

“His love for the environment and discipline was unmatched,” he said.

The minister described the foundation’s desire to replenish and protect the environment as a good cause and pledged the government’s support to it.

Commendation

A daughter of the former President and Director of the foundation, Yaa Asantewaa Agyeman-Rawlings, commended the volunteers for their effort to honour the memory of the late President.

She used the event to unveil a tree-guardianship project of the foundation which aims at nurturing instinctive environmental activism in students for them to understand their roles as protectors of the environment in order that they take ownership of the tree-planting campaign.

"A month before his 72nd birthday in 2019, the former President joined cadres to organise a tree-planting exercise at Shiashie in Accra as part of the June 4 celebrations. I remember him travelling to Dodowa and other destinations following reports of indiscriminate felling of trees for the construction of buildings.

"In the 1980s, on our frequent night drives as a family out of Accra, we often encountered bushfires. One could hear the crackling of the fires amidst the orange glare. Without fail, he would stop the vehicle, and with his security use strewn branches to stop the roadside fires.

"On other occasions, he would stop the vehicle to allow a snake to safely cross the road. The former President simply was at odds with anybody who could not appreciate the spirituality of mother nature and the serenity she provided for our lives, in exchange for preserving and protecting her. He was, indeed, a true guardian of our environment,” the director added.