Obogu (A/R), June 15, GNA – Planting and nurturing trees until maturity is a spiritual exercise in Islam just like observing the pillars of Islam, according to the Answaar Youth, an Islamic youth group in the Asante-Akim South Municipality.
The group which joined the rest of the country to plant about 1,000 trees under the Green Ghana Initiative is advocating Muslims to embrace the initiative to keep the environment green for the sake of humanity.
To demonstrate its commitment to this cause, the group distributed seedlings to residents of Zongo communities in Juaso and Obogu for planting and also planted trees in three schools in support of the national exercise.
The beneficiary schools were the Ghana Muslim Mission Basic School at Juaso, Obogu Islamic School and the Oduro Appenteng Senior High School at Obogu.
With one of the leaders of the group, Hassan Ibrahim being a staff of the Forestry Commission (FC), the group embarked on the exercise in close collaboration with the Municipal Office of the Forest Services Division of the FC.
At the Oduro Appenteng SHS, Mr. Hassan taught the students how to plant and nurture trees and why it is important to plant trees as young people.
He told the Ghana News Agency in interview that the Answaar Youth was only following the footsteps of the Prophet of Islam who encouraged Muslims to cultivate the habit of planting trees.
He said the Prophet prohibited the cutting of trees without tangible reason and implored Muslims to prioritise environmental protection.
“As followers of the Prophet, Answaar is committed to contributing our quota to the fight against environmental degradation which is in line with the tenets of Islam,” he stated.
He said Answaar was not only focused on propagating Islam in the Asante Akyem enclave, but also committed to any endeavor that promoted national development as responsible citizens.
GNA