Ghana is set to plant 10 million trees today as part of its Green Ghana Day initiative, which aims to restore its forest cover and combat climate change.
The event, which is in its third year, is organized by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Forestry Commission. It encourages all Ghanaians and residents to join the national tree-planting exercise and contribute to the reforestation efforts.
The Green Ghana Day has been a success story since its inception in 2021, when over seven million trees were planted, exceeding the initial target of five million. Last year, the nation achieved another milestone by planting more than 26 million trees, surpassing the intended goal of 20 million.
This year, the nation hopes to add another 10 million seedlings to its green legacy, while taking care of the over 30 million trees planted in 2021 and 2022.
To ensure widespread participation, free seedlings are available at the offices of the Forestry Commission, making it easy for everyone who wants to be part of this noble cause.
The Green Ghana Day was officially launched by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, at the Great Hall of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, on Thursday, 18th May 2023.
He urged all Ghanaians, traditional rulers, religious organizations, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, and all persons living in Ghana, to support the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and Forestry Commission, to make this year’s Green Ghana Day a success.
He also pledged to lead his chiefs and people to plant 2.5 million trees to protect the Lake Bosomtwe enclave in the Bosomtwe District of the Region.
The Government has been taking several measures since 2017 to restore the country’s lost forest cover, which has reduced from 8.2 million in 1900 to 1.6 million hectares today due to illegal mining and logging activities.
The Green Ghana Project is a necessary intervention to create national awareness of the need for collective action towards restoring the degraded landscapes. The programme also aims at instilling values of planting and nurturing trees in the citizens, especially among the younger generation, to mitigate the negative effects of climate change as well as beautify the environment.
