Green Ghana trees are flourishing – Owusu-Bio
Majority of the trees planted in parts of Accra under the Green Ghana initiative over the last two years are flourishing.
Those struggling to survive are expected to gain fresh energy to continue growing when the rainy season sets in.
This came to light yesterday when some officials from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources (MLNR) and the Forestry Commission (FC) toured some of the sites.
Led by the Deputy Sector Minister, Benito Owusu-Bio, the tour of the Achimota forest, Achimota School and National Seismological Observatory Centre was to enable the delegation assess the growth of the trees.
He was accompanied by Mr Sulemana Nyaadia; FC Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Mr Hugh Brown; Executive Director of Forest Service Division and Mr Joseph Osiakwan; Technical Director for Forestry at the MLNR.
The more than two-hour tour was also to mobilise public support to protect and preserve the country’s forest cover and environment.
Addressing the journalists after the tour, Mr Owusu-Bio mentioned that the survival of the trees in Accra was consistent with those in other parts of the country.
Referring to reports from the FC, he said for 2021, 65 per cent and 67 per cent of the planted seedlings surviving in on-reserved and off-reserved respectively.
“In 2022, both on -reserved and off-reserved sites recorded a survival rate of 72 per cent but rate of survival low until beyond third year of cycle by which roots are matured and can withstand conditions”, he said.
He stressed the need to protect the country’s vegetation, saying “today we do not see the direct benefit of tree planting exercise but in future we will, as it addresses climate change.”
The Minister urged the public to embrace the project by nurturing the trees and commended the officials of the FC for their dedication in ensuring the success of the project.
Mr Owusu-Bio lauded the media for their continuous sensitisation on the need to protect the forest reserve and called for more of such collaboration.
The Green Ghana Day Project was instituted by the government in 2021 under the auspices of the MLNR as part of afforestation agenda to restore the lost forest cover of the country.
It is also aimed at speedily retrieving and revamping degraded lands and restore the country’s lost green environment.
Ten million tress are expected to be planted across the country this year as part of the Green Ghana Day, out of the ten million, six million of the trees are expected to be planted in the forest reserve and four million out of forest reserve.
The planting of tress is expected to commence on May 9, this year.
BY ANITA NYARKO-YIRENKY
