Plant more medicinal plants, and herbs under Green Ghana Project —NFL urges government t
Such a strategy would help replenish the essential native medicinal plants and herbs that were becoming extinct.
Prosper Kwaku Selassy Agbitor 
The Founder and President of Save the Nation for Future Leaders, Mr. Kwadwo Atta Apeakorang, has suggested to the government plant more medicinal trees across the country during its yearly Green Ghana Programme.
He explained that such a strategy would help replenish the essential native medicinal plants and herbs that were becoming extinct.
He mentioned some of these trees including prekese, mahogany, Wawa, and Sapele, among others.
In an exclusive interview with the DAILY Analyst to proffer solutions to getting back all of Ghana’s extinct native medicinal and beneficial plants, Mr. Apeakorang said illegal mining activities and urbanization were the main causes of the destruction of the country’s medicinal plants and herbs, hence asked the government to address these issues.
He said these trees were crucial to the health of the citizenry and Ghana’s economy.
“The benefits of these trees cannot be over-emphasized, adding that “if the government decides to accept my suggestion, Ghanaians home and abroad would appreciate more the Green Ghana initiative,”
"Let's not plant any tree because we must occupy spaces but must strategically do that for future benefits," he added.
Mr. Apeakorang was of the view that creating a herbal village with a collection of herbs and plants could help in the treatment of common diseases.
He further encouraged the government to collaborate with the Association of Traditional Medical Doctors to select appropriate plant species.
He also underscored the need for the Town and Spatial Planning to collaborate with crop scientists to examine the soil in the Greater Accra Region as to which fruit could grow well in a particular area and name its street as such.
“For instance, places, where prekese can grow well, should be named 'Prekese Street,' he advised.
He commended the government for the Green Ghana project, adding that apart from the health benefits, the project will check climate change and make “our cities and towns more beautiful."
The Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MESTI) launched the Green Ghana Programme to plant 30 million trees annually. The project seeks to revegetate Ghana.
The initiative is being implemented through such stakeholders as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Forest Research Institute of Ghana (FRIG), the Forestry Commission (FC), the Ministry of Education (MoE), the Ministry of Chieftaincy (MoC), the Ministry of Communication (MoC) and the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS).
