The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, with support from the Forestry Commission, has stated that the Green Ghana Project to achieve five million trees planted nationwide will happen today, June 11, 2021.
In readiness of planting five million tree in a day, the Ministry and Forestry Commission have distributed more than five million seedlings to the district and regional offices of the Forestry Commission and district assemblies, malls across the country, and open parks.
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. Samuel Abu Jinapor said all preparations have been made to make the exercise memorable and successful.
Five million seedlings have been distributed to the district and regional offices of the Forestry Commission and district assemblies, malls across the country, and open parks. Also, the Forestry Commission has marked out sites for tree planting on the Green Ghana Day. The President, H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo would plant a commemorative tree at the precincts of the Jubilee House, the seat of government, at 1300 hours today”.
Trees to be planted today include economic trees like Wawa, Mango, Rosewood and Shea trees, and already distributed them to the 16 regions. The Greater Accra Region has received 450,000 seedlings, Central Region has received 400, 000, Western Region has received 250,000, We gave Western North 420,000, and Ashanti Region 1,000,000 seedlings. The rest were: Ahafo 170,000, Bono 250,000, Bono East 300,000, Eastern 750,000, Volta 200,000, Oti 150,000, Northern 250,000, North East 120,000, Savannah 250,000, Upper East 170,000, and Upper West 150,000,” he outlined.
Mr. Jinapor added that his outfit in partnership with the Forestry Commission, was determined to restore Ghana’s depleted forest cover.
“The Ministry of Lands and Resources and the Forestry Commission are determined to restore the depleted forest cover, which was about 8.2 million hectares, representing 80 per cent of the country’s land area, ravaged by the negative human activities such as illegal mining and lumbering. Currently, the country’s forest cover stood at 1.6 million hectares from 8.2 million hectares witnessed in 1900.”
“I therefore call on political parties, faith-based organizations, corporate bodies, schools, the media, diplomatic missions and all well-meaning Ghanaians to join forces with us to plant five million trees tomorrow. Visit any Forestry Commission office, any mall near you, or district assembly offices for your seedling. Together, let’s make Ghana green again. Let’s go planting,” he urged.
