The Minister for Lands end Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel Abu Jinapoh has revealed that, tress in Cities and Towns played an important role in the provision of clean air and the beautification of landscapes.
“Thus, last year, in partnership with the Departments of Parks and Gardens, and Urban Roads, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources launched the Green Streets Project, to plant appropriate trees in the medians of our roads, and along major streets, to beautify our cities, and provide environmental related benefits for a healthy and sustainable world”.
The Minister made this statement on the occasion of the Green Ghana Day held in Accra on the theme, “Our Forests, Our Health”.
He revealed that, the wealth of a nation depends on its health adding that, if trees are crucial for human health, then, they are indispensable to the socio-economic development.
“That is why under the direction of President Akufo-Addo, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, acting through the Forestry Commission, continues to implement several interventions, in collaboration with state and non-state actors, to address deforestation and forest degradation. These include the implementation of the Ghana Forest Plantation Strategy, the Forest Investment Programme (FIP), the National Alternative Employment and Livelihood Programme (NAELP), the Ghana Landscape Restoration and Small-Scale Mining Project (GLRSSMP), and the Cocoa and Forests Initiative (CFI)”.
The Minister disclosed that, over twenty-three million (23,000,000) trees planted in the first two editions of the Green Ghana Day have survived. “And this year, we have the opportunity to add ten million (10,000,000) and more trees to this number. This ten million target, will allow us to devote more resources to nurture the maturing trees planted in the last two years, in addition to those to be planted today”.
He gave an assurance of his outfit commitment through the Forestry Commission to continue to provide the necessary support for the nurturing of the trees. “While we do so, we entreat each and everyone of us to take responsibility for nurturing these trees in our homes, offices and communities, for them to reach maturity”.
The effects of trees he mentioned, are in the form of floods, droughts, heat waves, crop failures, diseases, and conflicts saying, even though Ghana is the least contributor to global warming, it is among the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
“This poses a systemic risk for our economy, infrastructure, water, food systems, public health, agriculture, and livelihoods, and has the potential to undo the developmental gains we have made over the years. The fate of our planet and the future of our people depend on the actions we take today”.
The Green Ghana Project Hon. Abu Jinapoh indicated, is very crucial to delivering on the commitments, both in the Nationally Determined Contributions, and to the international community.
“we are living in a time of unprecedented global environmental challenges that threaten our existence as a people and the fate of our planet. The climate crisis is affecting our health, our livelihoods, our security and our future, and remains the major obstacle to sustainable development. And anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions continue to be the major driver of this crisis”.
He thanked President Akufo Addo for his leadership and guidance since the introduction of the Green Ghana Project in 2021 added that, it is through his leadership, and the support of Ghanaians and other residents of Ghana, that they have consistently exceeded their target since the commencement of the Project.
On his part, President Akufo Addo assured that, Government remains fully committed to protect the environment and continue to explore all avenues to enhance the forest cover through afforestation and reforestation programmes and protect the natural resources through community-based management and conservation initiatives.
“Today, your contribution is to step out, take a seedling, plant it and make sure it grows. I encourage each and every one of you, Ghanaians and all persons living in Ghana, young and old, men and women, urban and rural, to join me on this historic day in this national tree planting exercise. We are planting for ourselves, our children, our country and our planet. Together, let us go planting ten million trees, and nurture them to maturity”.
He commended the Lands and Natural Resources Minister, for instituting the One Student, One Tree Initiative, alongside the Green Ghana Project.
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