TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2024
Hon. Deputy Ministers;
Chief Executive of Forestry Commission;
Chairpersons and Members of the various Committees of the Green Ghana Day;
Our Friends from the Media;
Distinguished guests;
Ladies and Gentlemen.
Good Afternoon!
On behalf of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, I thank you all for responding positively to our invitation to join us today for this short Press Briefing.
The purpose of convening this afternoon’s meeting, is to update you, and the good people of Ghana, on this year’s edition of the Green Ghana Day. We live in a time where the environmental challenges we face are increasingly urgent. Climate change, air pollution, and loss of biodiversity are issues that affect us all. One of the most effective and immediate actions we can take to combat these challenges is planting trees. Trees are the lungs of our planet, vital to our survival and well-being.
But, first and foremost, let me take advantage of this medium, to once again, on behalf of the President of the Republic, H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, express our outmost gratitude to all Ghanaians, as well as all residents of Ghana, for your cooperation and continuous support from the conception of the Green Ghana Project in 2021, as part of Government’s aggressive afforestation and reforestation programme to restore our degraded landscapes.
Ladies and Gentlemen, as you may recall, on 16th April, 2024, Yaa Naa, Abubakari Mahama II, launched the 2024 edition of the Green Ghana Day under the theme, “Growing for a Greener Tomorrow.” A target of 10 million tree seedlings will be planted on 7th June 2024, the Green Ghana Day.
And yesterday, Monday, June 3rd, 2024, I had the honour of joining the Okyehene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, in Kyebi, for the launch the 2024 Edition of the “One Student One Tree” initiative, where we expect every student to plant a tree on Friday, the Green Ghana Day.
On the maiden edition, we targeted five million (5,000,000) trees. With your support, over seven million (7,000,000) trees were planted. In 2022, we raised our ambition and targeted at least, twenty million (20,000,000) trees. Again, you supported us, and over twenty-four million (24,000,000) trees were planted. Last year, you, once more, supported us to plant over ten million seven hundred thousand (10,700,000) trees; bringing the total number of trees planted over the years in excess of Forty-one million (41,000,000).
So far, field Assessment Report shows that, on the average, we had sixty-seven percent (67%) survival rate in 2021, seventy-two percent (72%) in 2022, and eighty-one percent (81%) in 2023. This means that we have some thirty million (30,000,000) trees surviving to date and our task continuous to be to nurture them to full maturity.
To ensure maximum survival rate, we have decided to maintain the 2023 target of ten million (10,000,000) trees. This will give us space to devote some resources and attention to the trees planted over the last three years, while not losing momentum on our quest to restore our degraded landscape. It is the expectation of Government that, this year, we will receive the usual massive support to build on the successes achieved in 2021, 2022 and 2023.
This year, we have settled on the theme “Growing for a Greener Tomorrow,” due to its focus on sustainability, environmental conservation and future well-being. This theme, will enable us push boundaries to contribute to the global efforts at tackling climate change to support our survival and the sustainability of our planet.
With this being said, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am here to, kindly remind the entire citizenry and residents of Ghana that the 2024 Edition of the Green Ghana Day will be held on this coming Friday, June 7, 2024. President Akufo-Addo, will lead the entire nation via a commemorative tree planting exercise, at the Nicholson stadium, Burma Camp, Accra.
Out of the ten million (10,000,000) trees to be planted this year, six million (6,000,000) seedlings will be planted in degraded Forest Reserves across the country while four million (4,000,000) will be planted within and around farms, along degraded watershed areas and within communities, ie. Medians of roads, homes, schools, churches, offices, recreational grounds/parks.
This will include selected timber trees, shade trees, ornamentals trees, fruit trees and multipurpose trees that will be suitable to the climate conditions in the various region. Examples of seedlings to be planted include, Eucalyptus, Mahogany, Ofram, Ceiba, Emire, Wawa, Rosewood, Teak, Cedrela, Mansonia, Rain trees, Terminalia Mentalis, Royal Palm, Weeping Willow, Orchid Tree, Tree of Life, Mango, Coconut, Orange, Lemon, India Almond, Avocado, Cashew, Cassia, Acacia, Milletia and Albizia.
Each of the sixteen (16) regions has been allotted a number of seedlings to be planted and I, respectfully, implore all Regional Ministers to lead their various regions to exceed the appropriated targets by planting beyond their quotas.
We urge you, our friends from the media, to carry the message across, and mobilise our country in support of this noble undertaking.
Permit me to seize the occasion to appeal to all Ghanaians and residents of Ghana, our revered chiefs and queen-mothers, religious and faith-based organisations, Ministers, Parliamentarians, Judges, public servants, civil servants, Doctors, Teachers, Lawyers, Nurses, private sector organisations, Civil Society Organisations, students, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Development Partners, artisans, and all persons living in Ghana, to once more, support the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to make this year’s Green Ghana Day a success.
As was done in the previous editions, we have compartments for adoption by private institutions, and we will brand them with their names and logos. Each compartment is 128 hectares which is about the size of 1,200 standard building plot of 70ft x100ft.
And as always, seedlings will be made available at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the District Offices of the Forestry Commission, and at various designated public places, for collection on the Green Ghana Day.
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, trees are indispensable to the health of our planet and our wellbeing. Planting and conserving trees is essential for sustainable development and the resilience of ecosystems and human communities. The statement that “when the last tree dies, the last man dies,” still holds true today as ever. Let us, therefore, join hands, and green Ghana on Friday, June 7, 2024, the Green Ghana Day.
Green Ghana
Let’s Go Planting!
I thank you for your attention. And enjoy the rest of the day.
