Pungu-Telania youth plant trees to protect stream from further erosion

The youth of Telania, a suburb of the Pungu community in Navrongo, have embarked on a tree-planting exercise to protect a stream in the area from further erosion and prevent it from encroaching on farms and houses.

The initiative became necessary after the youth observed that the stream, which connects to the community dam, had widened significantly, posing a potential threat to lives, farms and other properties if left unchecked.

To address the challenge, the youth contacted the Navrongo Forestry Division, which provided them with close to 1,000 tree seedlings in two separate interventions. The seedlings were planted along the banks of the stream to help control erosion.

Speaking during the tree-planting exercise on Saturday, August 22, a member of the youth group, Emmanuel Sogoti Awefoge, explained that the initiative was prompted by concerns over the increasing width of the stream.

“This exercise became very necessary after we observed that the stream that connects to our community dam is widening beyond the boundaries we know.”

He added, “We therefore said, let us plant trees that will serve as protection against further erosion. So, we contacted the Forestry Department, and they provided us with trees.”

Awefoge said the group had previously planted 400 seedlings and was planting another 500, bringing the total number of seedlings planted to 900, with a target of reaching 1,000 before the end of the rainy season.

He said the exercise would also contribute to reducing carbon emissions and provide other benefits to the community when the trees mature.

Another member of the group, Michael Kuswewolo, appealed to individuals, benevolent organisations and the government to support the construction of a culvert over the stream to improve access between Telania, other parts of Pungu and Navrongo.

He explained that schoolchildren, traders and other residents were unable to cross the stream safely during the rainy season, forcing them to use longer alternative routes.

“Men and women, as well as children, cannot cross to the other side when it rains unless they pass through other routes. So, it is dangerous to let pupils cross the stream to school during this rainy season,” he said.

Kuswewolo therefore appealed for urgent assistance to construct a culvert over the stream.

Franklin Fankei, another member of the group, said members of the community had made efforts to mobilise personal resources towards the construction of the culvert but had been unable to raise enough funds to undertake the project.

The youth group expressed appreciation to members of the community in the diaspora whose support helped make the tree-planting initiative possible.

They also thanked the landlord and elders of the community for their support and encouragement towards the exercise.

Mike 105.3FM I Navrongo | David Adapuna

Maseda Spices