On June 4, 2024, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel A. Jinapor, held a press conference to provide an update on the government’s flagship afforestation program, Green Ghana.
Since its inception in 2021, the program has achieved significant milestones, with a total of 41 million trees planted. Notably, 30 million of these trees are thriving at various growth stages.
The Minister announced that the 2022 edition of the program saw the highest number of planted trees, with 24 million trees planted.
He also reported that the 2023 edition achieved a remarkable 81% survival rate, with 8.6 million out of 10.7 million planted trees surviving. The Minister assured that the Ministry and relevant agencies will continue to nurture the trees to ensure their full development.
“In the maiden edition, we targeted five million trees. With your support, over seven million trees were planted. In 2022, we raised our ambition to at least twenty million trees. Again, you supported us, and over twenty-four million trees were planted. Last year, you once more supported us to plant over ten million seven hundred thousand trees, bringing the total number of trees planted over the years to in excess of forty-one million.
“So far, the Field Assessment Report shows that, on average, we had a sixty-seven percent survival rate in 2021, seventy-two percent in 2022, and eighty-one percent in 2023. This means that we have some thirty million trees surviving to date, and our task continues to be to nurture them to full maturity,” he stated.
Mr Jinapor has confirmed that adequate preparations have been made for the successful implementation of the 2024 Green Ghana Day.
The government has procured a sufficient number of seedlings to achieve the target of planting over 10 million trees. The Minister acknowledged the significant contributions made by the private sector in supporting the program over the years, with the government allocating GHC 1.5 million for this year’s edition.
President Akufo-Addo will lead a symbolic tree planting ceremony at the Nicholson Stadium, Burma Camp, Accra, to commemorate the occasion. The theme for this year’s edition, “Growing for a Greener Tomorrow,” serves as a call to action for Ghanaians to contribute to global efforts to mitigate climate change.
The Minister urged the public to participate in the exercise and take responsibility for ensuring the growth and survival of the trees they plant.
The government has outlined a comprehensive plan for the distribution of seedlings, with 6 million to be planted in degraded Forest Reserves and 4 million in other areas, including farms, watershed areas, communities, and public spaces. The seedlings will include a diverse range of species suitable for different climate conditions, including timber trees, shade trees, ornamental trees, fruit trees, and multipurpose trees.
The Minister assured that the government will continue to ensure the sustainable and responsible exploitation of the country’s timber resources, with the Ministry and its agencies working to ensure that all wood exports are licensed and in compliance with relevant regulations.