The Northern Regional Minister, Hon. Alhaji Shani Alhassan Shaibu in his address at the launch of the 2024 edition of the Green Ghana Day on Tuesday April 16, 2024, under the theme βGrowing for a Greener Tomorrow,β emphasized the critical importance of environmental sustainability and the collective responsibility to protect our planet for future generations.
Scheduled for Friday, 7 June 2024, this year’s Green Ghana Day aims to plant a staggering Ten Million trees nationwide, with the Northern Region contributing 600,000 trees across its territory.
“The 2024 edition of the Green Ghana Day is a continuation of Governmentβs ongoing efforts to restore Ghanaβs forest cover and combat the far-reaching impacts of climate change. Since its inception in 2021, we have witnessed some remarkable progress of the Green Ghana initiative through the successive editions,” he stated.
Acknowledging the economic, social, and environmental benefits of environmental conservation, Hon. Shaibu emphasized the practicality of such actions, advocating for sustainable practices and green infrastructure investments for a resilient future.
“Environmental conservation is not only a symbolic gesture but a practical action with significant economic, social, and environmental advantagesβ, he stated.
Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel Abu Jinapor, lamented the alarming rate of forest loss in past years but noted the strides made under the Akufo-Addo administration’s aggressive afforestation and reforestation programs. He highlighted various initiatives contributing to forest cultivation and conservation.
Jinapor applauded the efforts of Northern Ghana’s chiefs in protecting the region’s forest cover and called for increased mobilization to exceed tree planting targets set for this year.
Naa Bapra Zangbalun Lan Yakubu Mahama, speaking on behalf of Dagbon’s Overlord, stressed afforestation’s critical role in mitigating climate change, particularly in regions facing erratic rainfall patterns. He underscored the economic and ecological benefits of tree planting initiatives, urging increased protection of shea trees, a vital resource in the north.
The Overlord reaffirmed his commitment to environmental conservation and urged Dagbon’s chiefs to actively participate in the Green Ghana Day initiative, signaling a united front towards a greener and more sustainable future.