COMPANY ESTABLISHES FOREST PLANTATION AT PONGTASS (PAGE 35, OCT 14, 2010)

WIENCO Ghana Limited, a leading agricultural company in the country, is establishing a 16.5 acre forest plantation at the Pong-Tamale Senior High School (PONGTASS) in the Savelugu-Nanton District in the Northern Region.
A total of 3,100 tree crop seedlings made up of 2,200 casia, 500 Mahogany and 400 mangoes are to be raised in the plantation.
The establishment of the plantation forms part of activities to mark Wienco Ghana’s 30 years anniversary celebration, which is on the theme: “Celebrating 30 years of sustainable agriculture”.
At a ceremony to kick-start the planting exercise at PONGTASS, Mr James Amaligo, the Assistant General Manager of the Integrated Tamale Fruit Company (ITFC), one of the subsidiaries of Wienco, stated that the plantation would be of immense help to the school and community if properly managed.
“When the seedlings mature into trees, the casia and Mahogany trees would serve as wind brakes and supply fuel wood for the community,” he said.
Mr Amaligo stated that the mango trees would also bear fruits which would be sold by the school to earn some proceeds to finance the expansion of infrastructure and the provision of teaching and learning materials.
Mr Amaligo said Wienco Ghana chose PONGTASS for the afforestation project because the school was located near a valley and was thus exposed to strong winds.
He said aside that, the school’s management had shown much interest in establishing a plantation, adding that Wienco Ghana would continue to provide more seedlings if the school managed the plantation successfully.
The Headmaster of PONGTASS, Alhaji Mohammed Gombila, commended Wienco Ghana for choosing to plant the trees in the school.
He said the school had a plan of establishing a plantation, but could not marshal the resources to do so.
Alhaji Gombila gave the assurance that the school would take proper care of the seedlings to ensure its growth.
Meanwhile, the tree planting exercise is being replicated in other parts of the country in partnership with Wienco Ghana’s subsidiaries, which are the Volta River Estates Limited, Wienco Fibres Limited, Cocoa Abrabopa and Masara N’Arziki.