Let’s develop national character for sustainable good governance – Rawlings

Former president Jerry John Rawlings has called on Ghanaians to develop a national character for sustainable good governance.

He said this on Saturday when he planted the first tree along the island separating the road between the Ghana Standards Board traffic lights and the Legon traffic lights.

The exercise was organised in conjunction with Zoomlion Ghana Limited, the Department of Parks and Gardens and the Forestry Commission.

It was aimed to celebrate the environmental credentials of Jerry John Rawlings.

Mr Rawlings urged Ghanaians to plant the theme of the celebrations – Developing a national character for sustainable good governance – in their hearts.

“As we commemorate this historic event, with a tree planting exercise I sincerely pray that the theme for this event will also be planted in our hearts,” the former President stated.

Present at the exercise included Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Samuel Ofosu Ampofo; Chairman of Zoomlion, Joseph Siaw Agyepong; MP for Wa Central, Rashid Pelpuo; former Minister of State, Samuel Nuamah Donkor.

Also in attendance was Bishop Clive Mould of the Action Chapel, former NDC Deputy General Secretary Koku Anyidoho, Greater Accra NDC Chairman, Ade Coker and former MP, Amadu Sorogho.

The spate of indiscriminate felling of trees without recourse to planting new ones is having dire consequences on the climate and the exercise was organized to encourage Ghanaians to re-embrace tree-planting as a way of life and to mitigate the effect of climate change and foster a cooler environment.

Mr Rawlings later departed for Ho in the Volta Region to attend the funeral of former of Steve Akorli, former Minister of Roads and Transport under the NDC.