ADA WEST NCCE MARKS WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY WITH TREE-PLANTING EXERCISE IN SCHOOLS

As part of activities marking the 2026 World Environment Day celebration, the Ada West District Directorate of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) undertook a tree-planting exercise in selected schools within the district to promote environmental sustainability and awareness among learners.

The exercise, held on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, involved learners, teachers, and staff of the Ada West NCCE. Trees were planted at Zion Care International School, Glorious Hope Academy School, Sege Community Junior High School No. 2, and Sege Presbyterian Basic School.

The initiative forms part of the Commission’s efforts to promote environmental sustainability and create awareness about the urgent need to protect the environment from the adverse effects of climate change while nurturing a culture of environmental responsibility among the younger generation.

Addressing the learners during the exercise, the Ada West District Director of the NCCE, Mr. Samuel Etsey, stated that the primary objective of the program was to instill the culture of tree planting among young people.

“The primary essence of the activity we are undertaking today is to instill in learners the culture of tree planting,” he said.

Mr. Etsey observed that Ghana has, over the years, developed a strong dependence on charcoal for domestic cooking and other household activities, a practice that continues to contribute significantly to deforestation.

“We have grown in a system where the use of charcoal for domestic fires and cooking activities has become established. To change this trend, we must adopt a new strategy,” he explained.

According to him, the NCCE’s strategy is to “catch them young” by equipping learners with environmental governance knowledge and values that will help shape environmentally responsible citizens.

He noted that the tree-planting exercise was guided by the philosophy that “when the last tree dies, the last man dies,” emphasizing the importance of preserving the environment for future generations.

Mr. Etsey explained that the Commission’s environmental education campaign deliberately targets upper primary and junior high school learners because they represent the future leaders of the nation.

“We believe that when they adopt these concepts, they can help maintain the environment better than we have done,” he said.

He encouraged the learners to take environmental issues seriously, stressing that the quality of their future lives would largely depend on how responsive they are to environmental governance.

“The future that awaits them depends on their responsiveness to environmental governance. They should strive to build a sustainable environment so that when they grow, the environment will be there to serve them better,” he advised.

Mr. Etsey further cautioned that failure to cultivate a culture of environmental responsibility today could have serious consequences for future generations.

“If they lack that culture today, when they grow, they may not appreciate what the environment will offer them,” he warned.

World Environment Day is celebrated annually to encourage awareness and action towards environmental protection. The Ada West NCCE’s initiative is expected to contribute to nurturing a generation of environmentally conscious citizens committed to sustainable environmental practices.