President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Friday planted a tree at the Jubilee House for the commencement of the Green Ghana Day, a day set aside to plant 5 million trees across the country to preserve and protect the country’s forest and its environment.
Millions of seedlings, comprising different tree species had been distributed to the 16 regions of the country towards the Green Ghana project.
The country’s forest cover as of 1900 stood at some 8, 200,000 hectors but had been depleted over the years by an astonishing 80 percent, which currently stands at 1, 600,000 hectors.
Speaking at the commencement of the maiden Green Ghana Day at the Jubilee House, President Akufo-Addo said the country forest reserve is one of the most important natural resources.
He said it continues existence had created jobs, provided income for local communities, source of foreign exchange earnings and offered environmental protection — water protection and climate change protection.
However, the exploitation of the country’s forest resources for national development, the President indicated, had not been sustainable over the years.
President Akufo-Addo said deforestation and forest degradation had been the greatest challenge to sustainable forest management in the country.
“The consequences and effect of deforestation and forest degradation, are severe climate change, which has dire consequences for our livelihoods,” he stated.
Specifically, the President mentioned dried-up water bodies, pollution of water bodies, loss of prime timber species, loss of biodiversity and change in rainfall patterns and severe weather conditions in the country, as some of the consequences of the mismanagement of the country’s forest reserves.
As a result, President Akufo-Addo said there is an urgent need to reverse the trend and “restore our forest resources, as much as possible, back to the original state.”
“We do not have tomorrow or all the days after tomorrow to do this. We have to act now,” he stated.
“As President of the Republic, and Co-Chair of the Eminent Group of Advocates of the 2030 UN Sustainable Development Goal, I am leading the nation today, 11th June, Green Ghana Day, to plant at least 5 million trees across the country.”
President Akufo-Addo said the government is determined to restore the country’s lost forest cover through several policy interventions.
The attempt to regulate and sanitise the small-scale mining industry, the President indicated, is one of such to help keep the country’s forest cover intact.
The maiden Green Ghana Day exercise, the President assured, would be an annual event. “We intend to enhance ongoing afforestation programmes and see to the sustainable exploitation of our forest resources.”
President Akufo-Addo assured that the government was determined to ensure the survival of the 5 million trees that would be planted across the country.
Together, the President said, “We must and will protect our environment ecosystem and we must contribute to the world’s agenda at combating global warming. We have to protect planet earth and our motherland, Ghana.”
“As I plant my today, at the Jubilee House, the seat of the Nation’s Presidency, I express my appreciation to our Green Ghana Ambassadors, particularly, the First Lady, Rebecca Akufo-Addo, the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Second Lady, Samira Bawumia, the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, the Chief Justice, Justice Anin Yeboah.
The President also thanked the Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, the Asantehene, Otumfo Osei-Tutu II, the Overlord of Dagbon, Ya-Na Mahama Abukari II, The Okyehene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori-Payin, the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osmunu Shaributu, and other prominent citizens of the country who embraced this initiative and committed themselves to support this national agenda by planting a tree.
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, described the initiative as a big investment into the country’s forestry sector.
Rex Mainoo Yeboah, ISD
