Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Benito Owusu-Bio has on Monday, 5th June, 2023 explained the need for the reduction in the Green Ghana tree planting exercise target to 10million seedlings this year, saying that the trees planted in the previous years needs to be monitored and nurtured into maturity.
The Deputy Minister was speaking in an interview on UTV's Morning Show, "Adekye Nsroma" on the 2023 Green Ghana Day. He said this year's strategy is really looking forward to ensure that Ghana's forests reserves are restored and revegetated with trees from the planting exercise on June 9th.
Answering a question on how to monitor and protect tress after planting, Hon. Benito said the Forestry Commission officers at various Reginal and District offices will go monitoring while he also ensures that the Green Ghana Committee joins in the frail.
The Deputy Minister was quick to applaud the National security who have been on top of the monitoring system since the inception of the project and hoped that they will extend same aid this year.
He also applauded Ghanaians for the support leveled up for the Green Ghana Project since it's inception, adding that as an annual project, the Ministry will need more of same support to keep wining each year.
The Minister admonished all Ghanaians and residents of Ghana not to end at planting come June 9th 2023 but to also ensure that they monitor and nurture every seedling planted to maturity in the days after the exercise.
He sent out special appreciation to the Green Ghana Committee, the Ministries of Environment ScienceTechnology and Innovation, Local Government, Parks and Gardens and all other partners and stakeholders for the support for the Ministry and government's aggressive afforestation and reafforestation agenda.
The Public Relations Manager of the Forestry Commission, Madam Joyce Ofori Kwafo in her submission gave out the pick up points for seedlings, spoke on the process for planting, the types of trees seedlings available, and explained the type of tree seedlings and the appropriate places to plant them. She mentioned some to be fruit trees, ornamental plants among others.
She informed Ghanaians that seeding distribution has commenced as off today, Monday 5th June, 2023 at the Forestry Commission Head Office and as the week progresses.
Madam Joyce added that all other pick up points including Forestry Services Division, Regional and Districts across the the country offices will have all kinds of seedlings in stock.
The Public Relations Manager also gave out a number of contacts to call for seedlings and more information on the 2023 Green Ghana Day; 0244643780, 0553231031, 0506167130 and 0553250117.
The Green Ghana Day was first launched by Government in 2021, under the auspices of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and as part of an aggressive afforestation and reforestation agenda, to restore the lost forest cover of the country and contribute to global warming efforts.
The maiden edition targeted to plant five million (5,000,000) trees, but over seven million (7,000,000) trees were planted.
Last year, over twenty-six million (26,000,000) trees were planted, exceeding the target of twenty million (20,000,000).
Story by: Think News Desk