As part of the activities to concretize a response to Laudato Si, a call of the Church to respect Mother Earth, the Society of the Divine Word (SVD), The Mission Congregation of the Servants of the Holy Spirit (SSpS), the Catholic Vicariate of Donkorkrom and Ghana Fire Service (Donkorkrom) collaborated to train 40 young people from some parts of Afram Plains.
As much as the stress is often placed on planting and replanting trees, when it comes to replenishing the ecological needs of an area, it is very important to also make every effort to inculcate the culture of maintenance, securing and most especially safeguarding the few trees and habitat of the animals we have at hand.
Protecting the environment, especially, the forests and farms from the random fires that occur in the Afram Plains, and some part of the country, care should not only be left in the hands of Fire Service officers and some few individuals but a collective responsibility.
With the vast nature of Afram Plains, coupled with its terrible roads, which makes it nearly or practically impossible for fire-tenders to reach them early enough when there are fire outbreaks, it is only paramount to encourage and train fire volunteers to assist in managing sporadic fires.
It was a two-day intensive training. They also had the opportunity to be trained on how to manage domestic fires; the training encompassed a series of lectures and practical drills, aimed at equipping the volunteers with essential firefighting skills and emergency response techniques.
In his welcome and introductory note, Fr. Nicholas Nibetol Aazine, SVD, Coordinator for justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation, encouraged participants to take the training seriously so that they can in turn train other young people in their area on how to manage fire outbreaks, especially, fire outbreaks in the forest.
The highlight of the program was the official inauguration and commissioning , chaired by the Bishop of the Catholic Vicariate of Donkorkrom, Most Rev. John Alphonse Aseidu, SVD. In his welcome speech, he emphasized the need to respect nature and be good stewards of Mother Earth. We (humans) he added cannot exist without the rest of nature.
He also called on the government to work on the Afram Plains roads, to help ease the difficulties for Fire officers and other citizens, who have been plying these dilapidated roads for decades now. He sighted an example of, how difficult it had often been for medical emergency referral cases. He added, one of the reasons Afram Plains ceases to be the food-basket of the country is because of the roads. We may be hemmed in by the river, however, we are still “fellow Ghanaians”
In attendance were the Provincial Superior of the SVD Very Rev. Fr. Cyprian Kuupol, SVD, the Provincial Superior of the SSpS, Sr. Mercy Benson, SSpS, who also took turns to thank and admonish the fire volunteers for their willingness, readiness and effort to be trained to help safeguard lives and properties, particularly the forest. They added, the Church is not aloof to the problems and challenges in the area, especially, when it comes to our common fight for Mother Earth. They advised everyone to join in the fight against the menaces of our environment.
The Eastern Regional Fire Service Officer, ACFO I Jennifer Naa Yarley Quaye, who inspected the parade and commissioned the newly trained fire volunteers and commended the effort of the SVDs, SSpS, the Vicariate and the entire Catholic Church for their collaborative effort to join them to respond to emergency fires outbreaks at various communities in the Afram Plains. Certificates of participation were issued to all participants for their efforts and dedication.
The inauguration was also graced by the Queen Mother of Donkorkrom. She lauded the organisers of the program and called for teamwork between the fire volunteers and the Fire Service Officers to curtail fire outbreaks. The District Chief Executive Hon. Isaac Ofori-Koree, also commended the Catholic Church for her enthusiasm to often partner with the Government to bring development; he praised the Catholic Church for their realistic effort to reach out to the needs of the people. The Catholic Church, he added always “walk their talk.”
It is also worthwhile mentioning the presence of the Police Service in Donkorkrom, Christian Council of Churches, the Imam of Donkorkrom, the Forestry Commission in Afram Plains and other priests and Religious.
Prior to this program, the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) and The Mission Congregation of the Servants of the Holy Spirit (SSpS) had organized a three-day workshop on “Best Practices of Tree Planting and Care” at St. Joseph Freinadmetz Parish, Ekye Amanfrom in the Afram Plains.
Thirty young people attended the workshop. About 300 seedlings were planted on the parish compound as part of the activities during the workshop. Sr. Vilma Espinosa, SSpS one of the facilitators of the workshop spoke extensively about the need to encourage everyone to plant a tree and personally take care of it; especially, children in the schools.
Nicholas Aazine, SVD
Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Coordinator (JPIC)
Email: nicholasbetol@gmail.com