2023 Green Ghana Day Will Be Launched By Otumfuo Osei Tutu II
Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II will launch this year’s Green Ghana Day, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor has communicated.
The Green Ghana Day was introduced by the Akufo-Addo-led government in 2021 as an aggressive national afforestation/reforestation programme to restore the lost forest cover of Ghana and to contribute to the global effort to mitigate climate change.
It was first observed on June 11 2021, when an estimated seven million tree seedlings were planted across the country.
The second edition was observed on June 10, 2022.
During both years, it was launched by President Nana Addo Danka Akufo-Addo.
The trend changes as the King of the Asante Kingdom will administer the launch of the project this year.
It will be held in May at the Great Hall of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Hon Jinapor announced on April 26 during a press conference.
2023 Green Ghana Day
The Day will be observed on June 9 with a target of 10 million seedlings down from the 20 million which was targeted in 2022.
Despite targeting five million seedlings two years ago, over seven million were planted. In 2022, over 20 million trees were targeted, however, 24 million seedlings were planted.
According to Hon Jinapor, field assessment reports show that on average, there was a 72% survival rate last year compared with 81% in 2021.
He said the survival rate was affected by external factors including rainfall patterns, wildfires and soil fertility.
“Nonetheless the survival rate shows that we still have some 23 million trees to nurture.”
“It is for this reason, this year, government has decided to revise our target downwards to 10 million trees. This will give us some attention and resources over the trees planted last two years on our quest to restore our degraded landscape.”
It will be held under the theme “Our Forest, Our Health”.
The theme signifies “the significance of forest in our lives and to remind us of the many health and related benefits we derive from forests.”
“Seedlings will be made available at the Ministry of Lands, District offices of the Forestry Commission and at various designated locations for collection on the Green Ghana Day,” he noted.
Hon Jinapor urged the public to support the government in this year’s drive.
