Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene last Friday led the Green Ghana Day in the Ashanti region, organised by the Regional Forestry Division to commemorate the 2024 edition of Green Ghana Day at the Golf Course, in Kumasi.
He planted a tree to mark the day to emphasise the importance of trees and called on every well-meaning Ghanaian to protect our forests, farmlands and water bodies for the sake of the future generation, through good farming practices devoid of illegal logging and mining in our forests and also stop farming at banks of water bodies.
Mr. Benito Owusu-Bio, Chairman of Natural Green Ghana Commission, who represented the Minister for Lands and Minerals Resources, expressed his profound gratitude to His Royal Majesty, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, for leading Asanteman to plant trees, as part of activities of Green Ghana Day.
He commended the Asantehene for his cooperation and continuous support from the conception of the Green Ghana Project in 2021, adding that, Otumfuo’s selflessness and commitment to ensure the protection and sustainable management of our natural resources perfectly aligns with the Government’s aggressive afforestation and reforestation programme.
According to him, as Chairman of Natural Green Ghana Commission, he could testify that over 40 million trees have been planted since 2021, under the Green Ghana Project.
The former Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources informed His Royal Majesty that this year, the President had set the national target to 10 million trees to give “us the avenue to nurture and take care of the trees planted over the last three years.”
He indicated that the government was expected to plant at least 10 million trees on the day and that Asanteman would always rise to the challenge.
He urged the general public to make conscious efforts to continue nurturing the plants to help them grow to maturity to ensure a higher survival rate.
Mr Clement Amo Omari, Ashanti Regional Manager of Forestry Division, disclosed that the only challenges his outfit always encountered were the Operations of illegal miners and Chainsaw operators in the forests and bushfires, which all contributed to defeat the efforts of greening the country.
He urged all stakeholders to get involved in protecting the forest reserves and our environment for the sake of future generations.
Mr. Omari pleaded with every stakeholder and individuals to also get involved in the exercise, saying you can choose to plant a tree to beautify your environment or at your backyard, as contributing to mitigate deforestation or degraded environment.
