The
Israeli
Embassy
in
Ghana
has
sponsored
the
planting
of
1,111
trees
in
the
Chipa
Forest
Reserve
in
the
Shai
Osudoku
District
of
the
Greater
Accra
Region
as
part
of
the
Green
Ghana
Day
activities.
Featuring
a
variety
of
trees,
including
mahogany,
rain,
cassia,
baobab,
and
ofram,
they
were
planted
in
honour
of
Israel’s
capital
–
Jerusalem,
and
the
one
hectare
site
was
accordingly
christened
the
Jerusalem
Forest.
The
ceremony
was
witnessed
by
representatives
of
the
Ministry
of
Environment,
Science,
Technology
and
Innovation,
traditional
leaders,
and
the
Forestry
Commission,
whose
officers
supported
the
planting
of
the
trees.
Explaining
the
significance
of
the
name,
the
Deputy
Head
of
Mission
of
the
Embassy,
Aviel
Avraham,
said
“more
than
almost
any
other
city,
Jerusalem
is
praised
in
music,
in
art
and
literature.
But
this
year,
we
at
the
embassy
of
Israel
wanted
to
do
something
special
–
to
praise
the
beauty
and
vitality
of
this
special
city,
of
our
beloved
capital
–
and
at
the
same
time
cherish
and
contribute
to
the
beauty
and
vitality
of
Ghana.”
He
said
the
Green
Ghana
exercise
was
in
line
with
Israel’s
commitment
to
environmental
protection
and
sustainability.
He
said
Israel
had
overcome
limited
natural
resources
through
innovation,
technology
and
resilience,
resulting
in
pioneering
efforts
in
areas
like
water
management,
renewable
energy,
afforestation
and
reforestation.
Mr
Avraham
praised
the
government’s
Green
Ghana
Day
campaign
and
expressed
Israel’s
readiness
to
support
Ghana’s
efforts
through
collaborative
projects,
knowledge
sharing
and
capacity-building
initiatives.
“Our
commitment
to
environmental
protection
extends
beyond
our
borders.
Israel
stands
ready
to
support
and
promote
Ghana’s
efforts
to
create
a
safe
and
sustainable
environment,”
he
said.
In
a
speech
read
on
her
behalf,
the
Minister
of
Environment,
Science,
Technology
and
Innovation,
Ophelia
Mensah
Hayford,
said
the
Jerusalem
Forest
symbolised
strong
bilateral
ties
between
Ghana
and
Israel
and
exemplified
international
cooperation
in
addressing
environmental
challenges.
Noting
that
Israel’s
expertise
in
managing
arid
landscapes
could
inspire
Ghana’s
efforts,
she
said
the
government
was
committed
to
the
implementation
of
strategies
aimed
at
protecting
the
environment
and
combating
land
degradation,
desertification
and
drought
impacts.
She
endorsed
and
pledged
support
for
the
collaborative
“Jerusalem
Forest”
effort
and
called
for
standing
united
in
the
shared
vision
of
a
sustainable
future.
FROM
JONATHAN
DONKOR,
SHAI
OSUDOKU