Green Ghana Project: We Are Planting Trees On Litigation Free Lands -Deputy Of Lands & Forestry Commission Declare
Ministry for Lands and Natural Resources and Forestry Commission of Ghana has stated categorically that the various lands on which the government is platting the trees under the Green Ghana Project are litigation-free and given assurance that the trees planted on these lands are safe for future generations.
Freeman Koryekpor Awlesu Greater 
Ministry for Lands and Natural Resources and Forestry Commission of Ghana has stated categorically that the various lands on which the government is platting the trees under the Green Ghana Project are litigation-free and given assurance that the trees planted on these lands are safe for future generations.
According to the two-state institutions, the government has taken due diligence before acquiring such lands, adding that the central government has genuinely and legally secured such lands from the various chiefs and custodian owners.
They pointed out that since the commencement of the ambitious project in the sixteen (16) regions of the country, the government has not encountered any challenge in the connection to the land litigation.
"The chiefs in the various communities we are planning the trees have shown us the places should plant the trees to safe the environment," they stressed.
The Deputy Minister for the Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. Benito Owusu Bio, and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Forestry Commission, Mr. John Allotey jointly disclosed this at a crowded press conference in Accra on Monday, June 13, 2022.
The press conference which was held at the conference hall of the Commission in Accra was aimed at updating the general public on the achievements so far chacked in the implementation of tree planting exercises across the 16 regions.
Addressing the journalists, Mr. Owusu Bio,
who doubles as the Member of Parliament for Atwima Nwabiagya North Constituency in the Ashanti Region noted that they are carefully protecting the various tress that they have planted so far across the country and urged Ghanaians to support the government's Green Ghana Project agenda to fight forest reserves depletion.
Mr. Owusu Bio expressed his appreciation to the Forestry Commission, the National Alternative and Livelihood Employment Project (NALEP), the Ghana Forest Investment Programme (GFIP), the Forest Plantation Development Fund Board; Parks and Gardens, Richie Plantations, and other Private Plantation Growers, for the great job done in organizing and making over 20 million seedlings readily available for planting on the Green Ghana Day across all the 16 regions.
He also congratulated his Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, led by Mr. Samuel Abu Jinapor, to the millions of Ghanaians and non-Ghanaians resident in Ghana, who participated in the 2022 edition of the Green Ghana Day on Friday, June 10, 2022.
According to the Deputy Minister who also doubles as the Chairman of the Green Ghana Planting Committee, the participation in this year’s Green Ghana Day was so overwhelming and the heavy rains that were recorded across the country did not stop people from picking up seedlings and planting them despite the rains.
This, he stressed demonstrates that under the right leadership and proper arrangements the people of Ghana are committed to supporting the government’s efforts to restore "our degraded landscapes, beautify "our environment and also fight climate change and its adverse impacts on national development and livelihoods."
"I am particularly thankful to H.E the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo for leading the nation through a colorful commemorative tree planting ceremony on Friday, June 10, 2022, the Green Ghana Day at the Efua Sutherland Children Park, where he planted his a tree.
"I am equally thankful to H.E the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, and the entire team at the Presidency for their support and participation in the tree planting exercise.
"Let me also take this opportunity to thank Ex-President J. A. Kuffour; Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin; the Chief Justice, Kwasi Anim Yeboah; the Chief of Staff, Mrs. Akosua Frema Opare; the Ga Mantse, King Teiko Tsuru II; the Asantehene, Otumfuor Osei Tutu II; the Okyehene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin; the Overlord of the Dagbon Traditional Area, Yaa-Naa Abubakari Mahama II; the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Sharubutu Osmanu; the Chairman and Members of the Council of State; the President and Members of the National House of Chiefs, Colleague Ministers of State and Members of Parliament; Members of the Diplomatic Corps, the Clergy and faith-based organizations, CSOs, the Security Services, Staff of various Ministries, Staff and Students of Ghana Education Service, Technical and Vocational Institutions, Corporate Ghana and the General Public for the tremendous support and corporation we received on Friday," he added.
He further congratulated former President John Dramani Mahama for showing his statesmanship to join the exercise which aimed to save the environment.
Flanked by Forestry Commission CEO, Mr. Owusu Bio stressed that having observed the Green Ghana Day on June 10, what is paramount now is to ensure that we maintain what has been planted.
He stated that Ghanaians need to make conscious efforts to nurture the trees by watering them, protecting them from destruction, preventing fires, and weeing under them until they grow to maturity.
"We are fortunate that we have good rains at the moment and we expect a high survival rate this year more than the 85 percent survival rate last year," he said.
According to him, his outfit has put in place a Monitoring and Assessment Team under the Chairmanship of Mr. Francis Manu-Adabor, who is the Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee to undertake a comprehensive field assessment of trees planted this year.
Against this backdrop, Mr. Owusu Bio stressed the need for the media practitioners in the country to continue with the extensive awareness and sensitization of the general public on the importance of trees and the need to plant even more beyond the Green Ghana Day.
He thanked Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor who doubles as the MP for Damongo for showing strong leadership in implementing the vision of H.E. the President on saving the environment and creating a greener future for our generations yet unborn.
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Pix: Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. Benito Owusu Bio
