The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has said 23 million seedlings survived, out of about 33 million planted in the first two editions of Green Ghana Day.
“With the support of all major stakeholders, over 23 million of the total trees planted in the first two editions of Green Ghana Day have survived,” he announced.
The minister made this announcement on Friday, June 9, 2023 at the University of Ghana, Legon, where the 2023 commemorative tree planting exercise took place, marking the third edition.
He added that this year, the ministry was looking to add ten million trees to the number, explaining that the target for this year would allow them to devote more resources to nurturing the maturing trees planted.
While assuring the gathering that the ministry was committed to nurturing the trees, he urged individuals to replicate the same exercise across the country.
ESSENCE OF THE DAY
He said that Green Ghana Day is used to revive the consciousness of citizens about the importance of trees. “It is on this day that we strive to inculcate into our people, particularly students and youth, the culture of tree planting. It is on this day that we scale up national awareness on forest protection and preservation,” he said.
The Minister underscored the importance of planting trees, stating that one mature tree could provide oxygen to up to 10 people annually. He thus entreated all Ghanaians to plant a tree, saying that “all we require from Ghanaians and residents of Ghana is for them to come out, pick up seedlings, plant and nurture them to maturity.”
The minister was optimistic that this year’s exercise would be a huge success. It should be noted that this year’s 10 million was a reduction from last year’s 20 million. He explained the reduction was to pay more attention to the nurturing trees planted in previous years.
Under the theme: “Our Forests, Our Health,” the event, aimed at combating climate change and rejuvenate lost forest cover across the country.
URGENCY
Addressing the gathering, President Akufo-Addo indicated the importance of Green Ghana Day, while emphasising the urgency of the climate crisis.
He remarked that the world is living in a time of unprecedented global environmental challenges that threaten the existence of people and the fate of the planet.
President Akufo-Addo further highlighted the adverse effects of the crisis on health, livelihoods, security and prospects, emphasising anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions as the primary driver of this perilous situation.
ASSURANCE
He, however, assured the nation that his government remained resolute in its pledge to protect Ghana’s environment and its people while actively contributing to global efforts to combat climate change.
He declared, “Government will continue to explore all avenues to enhance our forest cover through afforestation and reforestation programs, as well as protect our natural resources through community-based management and conservation initiatives.”
He stated that it was important for all to act collectively to address the global crisis with ambitious and meaningful efforts from all countries.
He revealed that Ghana has committed, under its enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions, to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 64 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2030.
GREEN GHANA DAY
Green Ghana Day was launched in 2021 by the Akufo-Addo government as part of an aggressive afforestation and reforestation agenda. The initiative is intended to restore the lost forest cover of the country, devastated by illegal small-scale mining and timber logging.
In the inaugural edition in 2021, five million trees were targeted to be planted, but that number exceeded seven million.
The second edition last year saw more than 26 million trees planted, way above the 20 million target set. On average, more than 81 percent of the seedlings planted in 2021 survived, while 72 percent survived in 2022.
