Government has called on Ghanaians to massively support its ‘Green Ghana’ initiative as it plans to re-green the country and protect the nation’s forest reserves.
The Green Ghana Day, which is today June 11, 2021, is being spearheaded by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.
It is a national effort aimed at planting more than five million trees in a single day to preserve and protect the country’s forest cover and the environment at large.
Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Samuel Abu Jinapor made the call at a media briefing in Accra.
The Minister who is also the MP for Damongo in the Savannah Region, reiterated that the project is a collective responsibility for which a concerted effort is needed to address the worrying phenomenon of degradation of Ghana’s forest reserves.
“We have come to this point through years of systematic degradation without the commensurate aggressive afforestation. The experts will tell you that we have utilized our forest cover and resources unsustainably. The issues of small-scale mining and the harvesting of our trees in a very unsustainable manner has brought us to this point.
“It is therefore the reason why in accordance with the vision of the President of the Republic H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the Green Ghana Project was launched which essentially is a well-thought-through project which is over a period of time systematically implementing programmes and action plans that will result in the restoration of the forest cover of our country,” he added.
Millions of seedlings provided
According to Mr Jinapor, millions of seedlings made up of different tree species had already been distributed to the 16 regions through the Forestry Commission for further distribution to individual Ghanaians and organizations for the purposes of planting.
He said a symbolic tree planting exercise will see President Akufo-Addo, Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Speaker of Parliament Alban S. K. Bagbin and Chief Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah, planting a tree each today.
Mr. Jinapor also indicated that other high-profile personalities who will take part in the exercise are the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II; and the Overlord of Dagbon, Yaa-Naa Abukari II, as well as other important dignitaries all over the country.
He called on individuals and organization to join the agenda to plant trees to help the purpose of the exercise.
In addition, the Minister noted that his outfit will set up a monitoring and evaluation team to surveil the progress of the trees after the planting exercise.
“On a quarterly arrangement and eventually at the end of the year on the first anniversary of the 2021 Green Ghana Day, we will take stock as to how we have fared and there will be a comprehensive report delivered to Ghanaians as to how many of the trees survived and how many are at what stage of development etc.
“This is not going to be the usual thing. We plant the trees and walk away, we will plant the trees, nurse, nurture them and monitor in a very scientific way and methodical way to ensure that we see to the progress of these trees,” he said.
A few days ago, President Akufo-Addo called on Ghanaians to plant more trees to preserve the country’s forest cover and the environment.
The President stressed that “We cannot sit by and watch as our trees, flora and fauna are wiped out. Our very existence is tied directly to the survival of trees. Without the oxygen produced by trees, we cannot survive as humans.
“Lend your support to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources as it executes this ambitious national assignment. I will be planting a tree and I expect you too to plant one. Let us make ‘Ghana Green’”.
