The government of Ghana is targeting a 50% reclamation of Ghana’s degraded lands in forest reserves during the 2022 “Green Ghana day” celebration.
This will be done through the planting of 20 million trees in degraded forest zones, rural and urban areas across the country.
The Green Ghana initiative which commenced last year with the planting of five million trees is expected to boost Ghana’s fast depleting vegetative cover and address climate change issues.
John Allotey, chief executive officer of the forestry commission made this known at the launch of this year’s programme scheduled to take place on June 10, 2022.
He said: “Our plan is to plant 10 million seedlings, representing 50% of the target in degraded forest reserves. We plan to prepare specific compartments in the forest reserves and label them as the “Green Ghana 2022 initiative.” We’ll plant mainly, indigenous species in these compartments with the view to maintain their biodiversity.
“…The idea also is to call on corporate Ghana and individuals to adopt this compartment. The ministry intends to brand the compartments in the name of the prospective entities and individuals. The remaining 10 million seedlings will be planted outside forest reserves; farms, schools and other spaces in urban areas.”
Meanwhile, the Greater Accra regional minister Henry Quartey has bemoaned the rapid deterioration of natural resources in the country’s capital which he maintains can be salvaged through the green Ghana project
“We’ll work closely with parks and gardens and the ministry of transport to plant the seedlings and also take care of these trees as they grow. It is my hope that our traditional leaders and other stakeholders of the region especially, the MMDAs will take advantage of this launch to embark on a massive tree-planting campaign to encourage tree planting in open spaces to create a unique environment in the region and also in other regions across the country.
“…We want a clean a sustainable city with environmentally friendly lifestyles and we are determined to do so if we work together as a team.”
Listen to Quartey in the audio below:
Safeguarding environment is a constitutional duty
President Akufo-Addo has called on the country to embrace the “Green Ghana Day” initiative of his administration spearheaded by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, because it is a “constitutional duty” imposed on every citizen by article 41 of the 1992 Constitution.
Addressing a brief ceremony at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) today the 1 March 2022, to launch the 2022 edition of the Green Ghana Day under the theme: ‘Mobilizing for a Greener Future’, President Akufo-Addo said the noble duty of tree planting to stop deforestation and encourage afforestation must be given all the backing it deserves by all citizen.
“Article 41 (4) of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic imposes a duty on every citizen to protect and safeguard the environment. This project is one of the ways of fulfilling this constitutional obligation and we must all make it a point to participate in this national exercise,” Akufo-Addo admonished.
“This noble venture ought to be funded and executed by our joint effort and, as much as possible, without burdening the public treasury.
“We can do it and I call on all Ghanaians and residents of Ghana to contribute in diverse ways to this welcomed and worthy endeavour,” the President said.
Nicholas Brown
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