President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo marked the 2024 edition of Green Ghana Day, championing a future rooted in environmental sustainability.
This year’s theme, “Growing for a Greener Tomorrow,” underscores the critical role of forests in combating climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss.
President Akufo-Addo’s speech highlighted the severe impacts of climate change, referencing the extreme heatwaves in South Sudan and the Horn of Africa that are rendering areas uninhabitable.
He noted that air pollution is responsible for approximately 6.7 million deaths annually and that biodiversity loss continues to threaten ecosystems globally. He emphasized that forests are pivotal in sustaining life on Earth and addressing these crises.
Agriculture, Forest, and Land Use (AFOLU) activities significantly contribute to Ghana’s greenhouse gas emissions. Maintaining forests is essential for carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, and pollution control. Since the inception of the Green Ghana Project, over 42 million trees have been planted, with an ambitious goal to add another 10 million in 2024.
This initiative aligns with Ghana’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 64 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2030.
The President called on all Ghanaians to embrace this year’s theme by participating in the national tree planting exercise and nurturing the trees to maturity.
He urged the private sector to support this initiative without burdening the public treasury and commended the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel A. Jinapor, for his leadership in sustaining the Green Ghana Project and the One Student One Tree initiative.
Minister Jinapor praised President Akufo-Addo’s unwavering support for the Green Ghana initiative and highlighted Ghana’s significant strides in global forest management and climate action.
At COP26 in Glasgow, Ghana played a pivotal role in the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration to halt and reverse forest loss by 2030.
This leadership has been recognized globally, leading to Ghana’s co-chairing of the Forest and Climate Leaders’ Partnership (FCLP) alongside the United States. This partnership aims to balance forest protection with food production and advance nature-based climate solutions.
Ghana’s efforts have garnered international recognition, with the country being the second in Africa and the third globally to receive results-based payments from the World Bank’s Carbon Fund for reducing emissions. The Green Ghana Day has been central to these efforts, with the survival rate of planted trees increasing from 67% in 2021 to 81% in 2023. This year’s theme reflects a commitment not just to planting trees but ensuring their growth and contribution to the fight against climate change.
Minister Jinapor called on all Ghanaians to support the initiative, emphasizing the availability of adequate seedlings and measures to ensure high survival rates for the planted trees. He echoed the President’s call for collective action to secure a greener and more sustainable future for the country and the planet.
As President Akufo-Addo and Minister Jinapor reinforce Ghana’s commitment to creating a greener and more sustainable future, it is imperative for all citizens to join hands in this critical national endeavor. The success of the Green Ghana Project lies in our collective efforts to nurture and protect our forests, ensuring a healthier planet for generations to come.
Mr. John Allotey, CEO of the Forestry Commission, expressed his gratitude to the President for his immense support and guidance over the four-year Green Ghana Day initiative and applauded the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources for his leadership in this worthy cause.
Together, let us embrace this vision of a greener tomorrow, committing to the stewardship of our environment and the well-being of our nation.
