Just over a week ago, people in Ghana decided to take on the impressive initiative of planting at least five million trees under the “Green Ghana” program.
The launch of the project follows the expansion of mining and agriculture that, according to environmentalists, has led to an exponential increase in forest degradation in Ghana. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has declared Ghana as one of the tropical countries with the highest rate of forest cover loss worldwide. Right now, Ghana’s forest cover is at 4 million acres, a drastic drop from the 8.2 million recorded in 1900.
To combat the negative effects of deforestation, several religious and charitable organizations joined the reforestation effort, and the government pledged to help support the cause by distributing free saplings to anyone and everyone. Residents can pick up their free planting kits at shopping malls in big cities and can choose from a variety of fruit, crop, or ornamental plants. Even President Nana Akufo-Addo planted a memorial tree in the garden of the Jubilee House.
With the help of many eager participants, the country’s forest commission is proud to report that on the first planting day, 2.7 million saplings were planted, overshooting the initial goal of two million by that afternoon.
Hopefully, governments of other countries that are afflicted by deforestation will be inspired to take on similar projects and band together to fight climate change.
Source image: US Embassy in Ghana
