The Green Ghana Project is in its fourth year of execution and since its inception in 2021, over 42million tree seedlings have been planted by the good people living in Ghana.
With a target to plant 10million tree seedlings, the 2024 GGD is slated for 7th June, where fruit, timber, ornamental and multi-purpose tree seedlings would be planted across the length and breath of the country.
The Chief Executive of Forestry Commission, Mr. John Allotey, accompanied by Hon. Martha Kwayie Manu, the Deputy Chief Executive ; Mrs. Joyce Ofori Kwafo, the Manager for Corporate Affairs and Media Relations Unit and Mr. Bennet Ntiamoah, Regional Manager for the Forest Services Division(FSD) and other staff, have engaged major stakeholders in the Central Region to secure their buy-in and to ascertain the level of the Region’s preparedness for the Day.

A Call on the Regional Minister

The Chief Executive and his team called on the Regional Minster for the Central Region, Hon. Justina Marigold Assan, to express gratitude to her, for her unflinching support for the GGD since it was birthed in 2021.It was also to officially inform her that the 2024 Edition of GGD comes off on June 7, and to solicit her support for a successful program in the Central Region.
Mr. Allotey mentioned that the Central Region had always exceeded its target and he expected that this year’s story would not be different. “The Central Region has a target of 600,000 tree seedlings and I trust that you will exceed it because you have done it over the years”, he concluded.
The Chief Executive further mentioned that the Region has over one million tree seedlings for the Day and as such, there would be seedlings for everyone to plant.
He however, advised that seedlings should not be planted close to walls, houses or places which would not be available for a long term. Trees planted in such areas may be cut down in the long run and that would defeat the purpose of the Program.
Mr. Allotey emphasised on the need to inculcate in the youth, the need to plant trees and called on all youth groups to be part of the event.
Hon. Justina Marigold Assan on her part appreciated the Chief Executive and his team for always calling on the Region to be a part of the GGD. For her, “The GGD has come to stay and it had been embraced by a lot of people, because of the many benefits it offered”.
Hon. Assan used the opportunity to invite all and sundry in the Central Region to come out in their numbers to collect their tree seedlings and plant on June 7. She further advised that, ”the planted seedlings should be nurtured just like a baby till it reaches maturity”.
She invited the Chief Executive and his team to inspect the trees she planted in 2021, which she had nurtured and were doing so well.
The Regional Manager of the Forest Services Division, Mr. Bennett Ntiamoah, mentioned that 80% of the tree seedlings to be planted on GGD this year, would be in forest reserves, whilst 20% will be planted in off reserve areas. He assured the Chief Executive that all the districts under the Region were very well prepared for the Day and assured that this year, the Region would once again exceed its target.

At the Central Region FSD Office

The Chief Executive and his team interacted with staff of the Region and congratulated them on the good work done over the years, especially on the efforts they made to ensure the success of the GGD since its birth in 2021. He admonished them to do their best to exceed the set target for the Region as they had done over the years.
He urged the staff to follow up on institutions which collected large quantities of seedlings to plant in the previous years to check their survival rates and also offer technical advice on how to nurture the trees to maturity.

Interaction With the Vice Chancellor of UCC

Mr. Allotey and his team paid a courtesy visit to the Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Professor Johnson Nyarko Boampong.
He mentioned that the UCC had been a great partner since the inception of GGD and it was prudent that he called on the Vice Chancellor once again to inform him officially of the date for the 2024 edition of GGD, which is June 7.
Mr. Allotey, who had earlier on inspected two GGD planted sites on UCC campus informed the Vice Chancellor that all the trees were doing well and thanked the Vice Chancellor and his staff for nurturing the trees. Mr. Allotey expressed the hope that this year, the UCC would plant more trees than in previous years.
Professor Boampong was full of appreciation for the Chief Executive’s visit and assured him that once again, UCC would be a part of this year’s GGD and they would plant about 30,000 tree seedlings. Also, the University had raised about 32,000 moringa seedlings as part of the preparatory activities for this year’s GGD.