MMDAs In Ashanti Region Exceeds Target Of Planting 10M Seedlings -Forestry Commission Boss Reveals
Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the Ashanti Region for working hard to plant 10 million of trees seedlings,
Freeman Koryekpor Awlesu Greater 
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Forestry Commission (FC), Mr. John Allotey, has commended various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the Ashanti Region for working hard to plant 10 million of trees seedlings, which represents 50% of the target since the Green Ghana Project kick-started in the country.
Administratively the Ashanti Region is divided into forty-three (43) Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).These are one (1) Metropolis, Eighteen (18) Municipalities and Twenty-Four (24) Districts.
According to him, the planting target of five million trees was exceeded in Ashanti Region, adding that four regions out of 16 regions across have mot exceeded their targets.
Mr Allotey cited the non- rain fall in the four regions, particularly in the Northern Region which has made negative impact to the trees planted on the soil in the four regions to meet their targets.
He disclosed that the over 22,000l seedlings were supplied by the Forestry Commission which were planted all over the country, adding that the species include Militia, Flamboyant, Visual Palm, Orange, and Coconut.
He asserted that planting trees promotes a better environment for all and cleaner air to breathe and therefore stressed the need for everyone regardless of political affiliations to take this initiative seriously to preserve the environment of the only country we all hold allegiance to through tree planting
He further stressed the need for all Assembly Members across the country to own the Green Ghana Initiative to ensure its sustainability and improved climate for the future and present generations.
He indicated that "Planting the trees is not as difficult as maintaining them. It is relatively important to maintain them by watering, pruning, and manuring to ensure that the core vision of this mission is achieved.
"We are doing this today because we want a greener environment today and tomorrow, so if we plant them and leave them at the mercy of the weather we will achieve nothing, we will be back to square one and that will be a waste of time and resources," he said hence the call on all Assembly members and all Ghanaians to play their part in making sure the seedlings planted today survive to protect the future generation.
He mentioned that the Assembly members were the managers of the respective electoral areas and as such must take it upon themselves to help green their respective electoral areas by leading their residents to plant trees in all open spaces.
Mr Allotey made the call 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 chalked in the implementation of the tree planting exercise across the 16 regions.
He noted that the general performances in two hundred and seventy five (275) districts in the country are very expressive, calling on the officials of the various assemblies and chiefs impress their taskforce and people to provide supervision to ensure the growth of the trees.
Mr Allotey thanked the President and Ghanaians for their support for the Green Ghana as the planting target of 5 million trees was exceeded by 2 million.
He stated that the FC has commenced engagement with the Department of Parks and Gardens to ensure effective planning and execution of all planting in the urban centers with the view to ensure that seedlings planted in road medians and avenues are properly maintained.
The strategy for 2022 according to Mr John Allotey, is to plant 10 million seedlings, which represents 50% of the target, in degraded forest reserves, and the remaining 10million seedlings will be planted in off-reserve areas, that is, farms, schools and other spaces in urban areas.
He said planting trees promotes a better environment for all and cleaner air to breathe and therefore stressed the need for everyone regardless of political affiliations to take this initiative seriously to preserve the environment of the only country we all hold allegiance to through tree planting.
He added planting a tree was important to create sustainable communities, preserve the environment and mitigate the effects of climate change.
According to him, the project would help in greening the city, beautifying it, improving air quality, reducing the heat and promoting walkability in the city.
“It has become necessary, because trees and vegetative cover help combat greenhouse effects, provide oxygen and provide shade. The initiative is also expected to reduce storms and runoff often witnessed within Accra anytime it rains heavily,” she said.
The Green Ghana Day initiative was launched by His Excellency, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo- Addo as part of measures to help mitigate the negative effects of climate change and also restore degraded landscapes across the country.
