The European Union (EU) in Ghana has kick-started its “Ride with Europe” initiative to ride bicycle from Tamale to Accra to mark 50 years of its physical presence in Ghana.
The initiative, which will last seven days (April 12 to April 18), will cover a distance of 800 kilometers.
A few team Europe members, EU ambassadors, member states ambassadors, and deputies, and charge de affairs will join the initiative, and they will make whistle stops in some cities and towns and plant a total of 1,000 trees along the way.
The initiative seeks to promote sustainability and green energy using bicycle as a symbol for a cleaner, greener future for transportation.
It is also to promote physical wellness, highlighting the health benefits of cycling as a lifestyle activity in communities.
Mr Rune Skinnebach, EU Ambassador to Ghana, joined by the Northern Regional Minister, Mr Ali Adolf John, kick-started the initiative from the Jubilee Park in Tamale on Sunday.
Mr Skinnebach, in an interaction with journalists at the Jubilee Park before setting off, said the initiative was also to remind all of “The importance of sustainability, the importance of climate, the importance of resilience, the importance of taking care of the world that we have and that we will leave for our children.”
He said: “We as a team Europe are very eager to demonstrate to everybody that Europe is not only the first export market of Ghana, not only the first investor in Ghana, not only the first development partner to Ghana, but we are also the first sportsmen in Ghana.”
He added: “We look forward to doing this right all the way from Tamale to Accra while planting trees and meeting traditional authorities and dignitaries, and it’s going to be an exciting week.”
Mr John lauded the initiative and its benefits to the country.
He touted the hospitable spirit of the citizenry, saying they would welcome the team very well as they rode through their towns and cities.
Earlier, Mr. Skinnebach and Mr. John planted 25 tree seedlings comprising mahogany and teak at the Tamale Fuel Wood Plantation.
GNA
