Samuel Abu Jinapor
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has announced that initial reports following the massive tree planting exercise across the country indicate that the Green Ghana project exceeded the five million tree planting target.
“Indeed, provisional reports from the Forestry Commission indicate that this target was exceeded,” he said of the five million trees earmarked for planting.
In a statement expressing the gratitude of the government and his ministry especially, to Ghanaians and others who joined in the project, he said,
“On behalf of the Government of Ghana and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, I wish to express my profound gratitude to the multitude of people who participated in the national exercise of planting at least five (5) million trees on the Green Ghana Day.”
The minister singled out the President for special gratitude, for as he put it, “his foresight and support throughout the planning and execution of this ambitious national undertaking. We are thankful to the Vice President, Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia for his support and participation in the exercise. The gratitude of the nation goes to the following personalities for their exemplary leadership in supporting and planting trees on the Green Ghana Day: Speaker of Parliament, Alban S.K. Bagbin; the Chief Justice, Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah; the Chairman and Members of the Council of State; the Chief of Staff, Mrs. Akosua Frema Osei-Opare; the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Okyehene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin; the Overlord of Dagbon, Yaa Naa Abubakari Mahama II; the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu; the President and Members of the National House of Chiefs; colleague Ministers of State; Members of Parliament; Members of the Diplomatic Corps; the clergy; Civil Society Organisations (CSOs); members of the security services; staff of various ministries; staff and students of the Ghana Education Service; and Corporate Ghana.”
He also commended the ordinary citizens and residents of Ghana for their overwhelming co-operation and participation in this national exercise.
He thanked the Forestry Commission “led by its hardworking Chief Executive Officer, John Allotey, as well as the National Planning Committee, Chaired by Benito Owusu-Bio and the staff of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, without whom we could not have achieved this feat which has received worldwide attention.”
Even as he encouraged everyone who planted a seedling to nurture it, he stated that “Green Ghana Day, June 11, is just the beginning of a long-term Green Ghana Project to restore the lost forest cover of our country.”
The minister reaffirmed government’s commitment to ensure the survival of the trees planted “as we continue to enhance ongoing afforestation programmes.”
By A.R. Gomda