Minister of state at the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, Mr. O. B. Amoah has lauded the introduction of the ‘Green Ghana Day’ by government.
He said the special day will help create awareness on tree planting and to preserve the environment.
“It is an initiative that is very laudable in the sense that the day has been dedicated to planting trees and not just for planting trees but creating the awareness that we must preserve our trees, our forest, environment and to fight the climate change menace.
“We should do everything to preserve what we already have and also protect it and replenish it. Giving what has gone on in 2021 and 2022 and giving that the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has stated that at least about 70 percent of what we planted has survived, the target this year is 10 million trees and if we continue this way, we will replenish what has been lost”, he added.
Mr. O. Amoah who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Akuapem South made the observation when he planted a tree at Nationalism Park at Osu, in Greater Accra on the ‘Green Ghana Day’, on June 9, 2023.
Green Ghana Day was introduced in 2021 as part of Government’s aggressive afforestation and reforestation programme to restore the lost forest cover of the country, and contribute to global action against climate change.
The Day, Mrs. O. B. Amoah noted, will also help in “inculcating in us, especially the youth that this is the best way to go if we have to fight the menaces such as degradation, pollution, climate change and all the rest”.
Parks and Gardens, the minister of state noted, is doing its best in tree planting.
“Park and Gardens is doing very well but of course they cannot do it alone and so we’ve even tasked the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to assist and the lands ministry and forestry commission are also involved”, Mr. O. B. Amoah added.
He said it is the duty of the MMDAs to green everywhere because that is part of development, and “if it is part of development it something that is of priority to them”, as it is part of their mandate.
Mr. O. B. Amoah said the objectives of the tree planting will not be achieved at once but as “you see around, a lot is being achieved and a lost more will be achieved”, the Minister of state reiterated.
Other projects
The Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, Mr. O. B. Amoah pointed out, has various projects where they try to mainstream this agenda of tree planting.
“We have projects like Social Cohesion Northern, Gulf of Guinea Project, which we call the SOCO Project, and once we have such a project, the 48 districts involved in the project should also identify areas where they can grow trees, they can preserve the forest etc.
“Then you come to what we call the safety Net Project, which involves about 100 districts and these districts can also mainstream this idea of greening Ghana”, Mr. O. B. Amoah added.
