Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has provided an update on the progress of seedlings planted under the Green Ghana initiative.
According to him, 80% of the seedlings planted under the project which started last year have survived.
“Last year we targeted to plant 5 million seedlings, and we ended up planting 7 million seedlings. The report I have is that 80% of the seedlings we planted have survived. We have learned a good number of lessons from the 2021 edition of Green Ghana day and we factored all of them in this year’s edition,” he said on Accra-based TV, on Wednesday, June 8.
Mr Jinapor indicated that 20 million seedlings will be planted under the project which will come off on Friday, June 10, 2022. This will be the second edition.
“On Friday we are committed to planting 20 million seedlings. We have mobilized all the seedlings. The Ghana Armed Forces, has been very supportive, they have transported the seedlings to the offices of the Forestry Commission, and the District Assemblies, there will be some in the various malls in the capital cities of our country and regions and so the seedlings will be available,” he said.
“What is now required is for Ghanaians and residents within Ghana to come out in their numbers on Friday for us to plant 20 million seedlings,” he added.
In 2021, President Akufo-Addo planted a Moringa (tree of life) seedling in commemoration of the Green Ghana day. The event happened at the Jubilee House where state dignitaries converged to mark the occasion.
The Lands Minister also indicated that this year, the President will plant a tree at the Efua Sutherland Park. Other dignitaries to grace the occasion include the Chief Justice, Kwasi Anin Yeboah who will partake in the exercise from the edifice of the Judicial Service.
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, and former Presidents John Agyekum Kufuor and John Dramani Mahama will also plant trees.
He said this year’s event is sponsored by the state with support from faith-based organisations and Corporate institutions in the country.