Nana Addo Leads Green Ghana Agenda

President Nana Akufo-Addo has said the ‘Green Ghana Agenda’, over the last three years, has yielded very positive results and seen the planting of some 42 million trees most of which are thriving across the country.

The President, speaking last Friday when he lead a commemorative tree planting exercise to mark the 2024 edition of the annual Green Ghana Day, called on every citizen of and resident in Ghana to join the concerted and nationwide aggressive afforestation and reforestation agenda aimed to restore degraded forest landscape and to contribute to Global efforts to fight climate change.

“Wherever you are today, from Axim to Zebilla, and from Aflao to Tumu, whether you are a farmer, teacher, doctor, nurse, lawyer, politician, artisan, or student, grab a seedling, plant it, and nurture it to maturity. Every seedling we plant today is a step towards a sustainable future. Together, let us go out not only to plant trees, but also to grow them for a Green Tomorrow”, Nana Akufo-Addo noted.

The President continued: “This year, we have the opportunity to add at least 10 million more trees, bringing our total to an incredible 52 million trees in just four years. This is a remarkable achievement, demonstrating our collective commitment to combating climate change, conserving biodiversity, and securing a sustainable future for our nation

“Forests play a crucial role in sustaining life on earth and addressing the triple planetary crises of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss.”

“Here in Ghana, activities related to Agriculture, Forest, and Land Use (AFOLU) contribute fifty percent of our national greenhouse gas emissions. By preserving our forests and adopting sustainable land use practices, we can significantly combat climate change through carbon sequestration. Each tree we plant today is a step towards a greener, healthier, and more prosperous future for all Ghanaians” Nana Addo added.

The President appealed to the private sector to support this noble venture, emphasizing that it should not burden the public treasury. Special commendation was given to the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel A. Jinapor, for his leadership in sustaining the Green Ghana Project and the One Student One Tree initiative, which instills the importance of environmental stewardship in the youth.

In his address, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, praised President Akufo-Addo’s unwavering support for the Green Ghana initiative. He highlighted the President’s leadership in environmental protection and forest restoration since the program’s inception in 2021.

Minister Jinapor expressed gratitude to the Ghana Armed Forces for their vital role in the program’s organisational success, particularly in the logistics and distribution of seedlings while announcing their planting of over 1000 tree seedlings as thier quota to support the 2024 Green Ghana Day.

The Minister outlined Ghana’s significant strides in global forest management and climate action. At COP26 in Glasgow, Ghana played a pivotal role in the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration to halt and reverse forest loss by 2030. This leadership has been recognized globally, leading to Ghana’s co-chairing of the Forest and Climate Leaders’ Partnership (FCLP) alongside the United States. This partnership aims to balance forest protection with food production and advance nature-based climate solutions.

Highlighting the impact of these initiatives, Jinapor noted that Ghana was the second country in Africa and the third globally to receive results-based payments from the World Bank’s Carbon Fund for reducing emissions. “The Green Ghana Day has become a cornerstone of these efforts, with the survival rate of planted trees increasing significantly each year, from 67% in 2021 to 81% in 2023. This year’s theme, “Growing for a Greener Tomorrow,” reflects the commitment to not just planting trees but ensuring their growth and contribution to the fight against climate change”. He added

The Minister called on all Ghanaians to support the initiative, emphasizing the availability of adequate seedlings across the country and the measures in place to ensure high survival rates for the planted trees. He echoed the President’s call for collective action to secure a greener and more sustainable future for the country and the planet.

With this rallying call, President Akufo-Addo and Minister Jinapor reinforced Ghana’s commitment to creating a greener and more sustainable future, urging all citizens to join hands in this critical national endeavor.