Deputy Ranking Member of Parliament’s Lands and Forestry Committee, Alhassan Suhuyini, has criticized the government’s Green Ghana Day initiative, labeling it as susceptible to procurement irregularities.
According to the Tamale North legislator, the initiative has failed to significantly increase Ghana’s forest cover.
While acknowledging the noble intentions behind the initiative, Suhuyini pointed out its flawed approach, which he believes lacks transparency and falls short of making a substantial environmental impact.
“While the intention behind the government initiative under the Green Ghana project remains noble, we believe that the approach is inadequate, not transparent and falls short of making a significant impact on the environment because the campaign is not linked to the creation of natural reserves and the overall effective management and conservation of forest reserves.
“It is worse that our forests and green spaces have been so compromised due to the government’s unwillingness to defeat illegal mining and its reckless policies; such as the self-serving declassification of Forest Reserves and sale of same lands to private developers and cronies. Eg Achimota Forests and Tamale Timber Market and the promotion of legislation on mining in Forest Reserves. Eg EPA LI2462.”
He expressed concern that the initiative is not linked to the establishment of natural reserves or the effective management and conservation of forest reserves.
Mr Suhuyini highlighted the degradation of Ghana’s forests and green spaces due to the government’s failure to address illegal mining and implementation of policies favoring land declassification and sale to private interests. Examples cited include the Achimota Forests and Tamale Timber Market, along with legislation promoting mining in Forest Reserves.
The legislator emphasized that simply planting seedlings once a year is insufficient to combat deforestation and climate change, especially considering the financial burden it places on the government.
He criticized the alleged corrupt procurement practices associated with the initiative, such as awarding contracts to cronies without competitive bidding, resulting in inflated costs and mounting debts for the Forestry Commission.
Mr Suhuyini urged the government to reassess its approach to the Green Ghana Project, advocating for a more sustainable, long-term strategy for reforestation.
He emphasized the importance of continuous, transparent efforts throughout the year, coupled with robust monitoring and evaluation, to achieve meaningful results in environmental protection and climate change mitigation.
“The last couple of years have proven that planting millions of seedlings only once a year is not enough to combat deforestation and address the challenges of climate change.
“It only creates the conditions for corrupt procurements; a scheme where seedlings supply contracts, printing paraphernalia are offered to cronies without competitive bidding, at inflated prices, thus, burdening the Forestry Commission with mounting debts.
“According to the Seedlings Contractors Association in Ashanti Region last year, 2023, the government owed them GH¢28 million for 2021 and 2022 seedling supplies.”