As part of government’s aggressive afforestation and reforestation programme to restore the country’s degraded landscapes, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has announced that the 2023 edition of the Green Ghana Day will come off on Friday, June 9, 2023.
Briefing the media yesterday, Mr Jinapor disclosed that the official launch will be done by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, at the Great Hall of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, on May 2023.
It will be under the theme ‘Our Forests, Our Health’ to signify the importance of “forests in our lives, and to remind us of the many health and related benefits we derive from forests”.
The Lands Minister, therefore, called on the media to carry the message across, and mobilise the country in support of the project.
Appeal
“Trees play a crucial role in our survival and the survival of planet earth. The statement that ‘when the last tree dies, the last man dies,’ still holds true today. Let us, therefore, all join hands together, and Green Ghana on Friday, June 9, 2023, the Green Ghana Day.
“As we did last year, we have compartments for adoption by private institutions, and we will brand these compartments with their names and logos. And as always, seedlings will be made available here at the Ministry, the District Offices of the Forestry Commission, and at various designated locations, for collection on the Green Ghana Day,” he stated.
Mr Jinapor said detailed schedule of the seedling distribution and pick-up points will be published in due course.
Gratitude
The Minister expressed appreciation to Ghanaians for their cooperation and continuous support since the Project was launched in 2021.
“On the maiden edition, we targeted five million trees. With your support, over seven million trees were planted. Last year, we raised our ambition and targeted at least, twenty million trees. Again, you supported us, and over twenty-four million trees were planted; bringing the total planted trees, over the years, to in excess of thirty-one million trees,” he stated.
So far, he disclosed that field assessment report shows that, on the average, there was 72 percent survival rate last year as compared to 81 percent in 2021.
He noted that while adequate measures were put in place to ensure the survival of all trees planted, a number of external factors account for the survival rate, including rainfall patterns, wildfires and soil fertility.
Nonetheless, the Minister said the survival rate shows that the country still has some 23 million trees to nurture.
He disclosed that the Ministry had revised its target downwards to 10 million trees. This, he indicated, will give space to devote some resources and attention to the trees planted over the last two years, and maintain momentum to restore degraded landscape.
“It is the expectation of the Government that, this year, we will receive the usual massive support to build upon the successes achieved in 2021 and 2022,” the Minister added.
