Benito Owusu-Bio, the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and National Chairman of the 2022 Green Ghana Planning Committee, revealed that a total of 22,671,696 million seedlings have been distributed so far for the 2022 edition of the Green Ghana agenda, far exceeding the initial 20 million seedling target.
The Deputy Minister, speaking on behalf of the Sector Minister, Samuel, A. Jinapor, during a press conference following the Green Ghana Day on Monday, 13th June, 2022, called for effective monitoring and supervision of the seedlings planted to ensure the success of the government's aggressive afforestation and reforestation program in 2022.
"We must make deliberate efforts to nurture the trees by watering them, protecting them from harm, preventing fires, and weeding under them until they mature," he stated.
The Deputy Lands Minister went on to say that the "This year's survival rate will be higher than previous year's record of 85 percent. The Ministry has established a Monitoring and Assessment Team, led by Hon. Francis Manu-Adabor, Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Lands and Forestry, to conduct a comprehensive field assessment of trees planted this year. Other members of the Committee, including myself and the CEO of the Forestry Commission, are also members of the team."
Hon. Owusu-Bio used the opportunity to refute media claims that the Green Ghana Day program was politicized and partisan, stating that the event was a national one and that the participation of Ghanaians from various political and religious backgrounds, including former President John Dramani Mahama, former President John Agyekum Kufuor, the National Chief Imam, and high-profile members of the clergy, gave it legitimacy.
In response to a query from the media on the budget and spending for the Green Ghana Day, Hon. Benito Owusu said that GHC6 million cedis has been disbursed to the Ministry for the Green Ghana Day so far, out of which GHC4 million cedis has been spent.
The 22 million tree saplings were procured, along with publicity and other costs associated with the planting.
He went on to say that, as last year, a complete report on the costs will be made available to the public after that.
Mr. John Allotey, the CEO of the Forestry Commission, presented an in-depth presentation on the preliminary outcomes of the seedlings distributed and planted on Green Ghana Day.
The individual objectives allocated to Regions and the actual achievements attained were among the highlights of his presentation.
The Ashanti, Ahafo, Bono, Bono East, Eastern, and Greater Accra Regions all exceeded their targets, while the Northern, North East, and Oti Regions fell short.
Due to poor rainfall in certain areas, they have failed to fulfill their goal.
He stated that 40.2 percent of the purportedly planted seedlings in forest reserves have been planted, while the remaining 50 percent for houses and other sites has seen 59.8% work done, while adding that a total of 22,671,696 seedlings have been delivered thus far.
"The national goal was to plant 20 million seedlings, but as of right now, we've dispersed 22,671,696, and the districts are still inputting some of the numbers, so we'll keep you updated as they come in." He revealed
He also provided an appraisal of the performance of several districts in the regions, stating that "while some districts are yet to achieve their full potential," he said.
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