The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, disclosed yesterday that over 81 percent of the tree seedlings planted last year as part of the Green Ghana project have survived and are flourishing.

He indicated that the statistics are derived from a field assessment report submitted to the Lands Ministry by the Forestry Commission, detailing the verification assessment of trees planted during the years under review.

The Minister made the disclosure when he met the media at the Information Ministry in Accra. He assured Ghanaians that all money invested in procuring seedlings had been judiciously utilized, as most of the seedlings planted during the 2021, 2022 and 2023 Green Ghana Day planting exercises had survived.

“So far, the Field Assessment Report shows that, on average, we had a sixty-seven percent survival rate in 2021, seventy-two percent in 2022, and eighty-one percent in 2023. This means that we have some thirty million trees surviving to date, and our task continues to nurture them to full maturity,” he stressed.

He provided a detailed breakdown of the project’s success, noting that the 2022 edition witnessed the highest number of planted trees—24 million. “In the maiden edition, we targeted five million trees. With your support, over seven million trees were planted. In 2022, we raised our ambition to at least twenty million trees.

“Again, you supported us, and over twenty-four million trees were planted. Last year, you once more supported us to plant over ten million seven hundred thousand trees, bringing the total number of trees planted over the years to in excess of 41 million,” he stated.

Ahead of Friday’s Green Ghana Day, the Minister assured that all necessary measures for a successful observation of the day had been met.

He disclosed that,  over the years, the project had relied heavily on support from the private sector, with the government allocating GHC 1.5 million for this year’s edition.

He also announced that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo would lead a commemorative tree planting exercise at the Nicholson Stadium, Burma Camp in Accra.

The 2024 edition is under the theme “Growing for a Greener Tomorrow.” The Minister appealed to the public to take an interest in the project, participate in the exercise, and make it their responsibility to ensure the growth of the trees they plant. He said the government would continue to ensure that the country’s timber resources were exploited in a sustainable and responsible manner.

He mentioned that out of the 10 million trees to be planted this year, 6 million seedlings will be planted in degraded forest reserves across the country, while 4 million will be planted within and around farms, along degraded watershed areas, and within communities. Other areas, he indicated, include medians of roads, homes, schools, churches, offices, and recreational grounds/parks.

The tree types will include selected timber trees, shade trees, ornamental trees, fruit trees, and multipurpose trees suitable for the climate conditions in the various regions.

Examples of seedlings to be planted include Eucalyptus, Mahogany, Ofram, Ceiba, Emire, Wawa, Rosewood, Teak, Cedrela, Mansonia, Rain trees, Terminalia Mentalis, Royal Palm, Weeping Willow, Orchid Tree, Tree of Life, Mango, Coconut, Orange, Lemon, Indian Almond, Avocado, Cashew, Cassia, Acacia, Milletia, and Albizia.