In a groundbreaking effort to promote environmental sustainability, Ghana’s President, John Dramani Mahama, launched the ‘Tree for Life’ initiative on Friday, March 21, 2025.
This flagship government program aims to distribute seven million seedlings of ornamental and food crops to various government agencies, the private sector, and the general public for planting.
Speaking at the launch ceremony in Nkawie, Ashanti Region, President Mahama reiterated his commitment to environmental protection.
“Our efforts to protect Ghana’s environment go beyond combating illegal mining. We are also focused on reclaiming degraded lands,” he stated.
The President cited a successful pilot project that restored 16 hectares of land and plans to scale this up to 500 acres of reclaimed land annually, with a short-term goal of reclaiming 10,000 hectares.
The ‘Tree for Life’ initiative is part of a broader strategy to rehabilitate river bodies damaged by illegal mining.
President Mahama also announced that Ghana is set to begin exporting Forest Law Enforcement, Governance, and Trade (FLEGT)-licensed timber by June 2025.
This milestone will make Ghana the first African country and the second globally, after Indonesia, to achieve FLEGT certification.
“The FLEGT initiative ensures that only sustainably sourced timber is imported into the European Union, combating illegal logging and promoting sustainable forest management,” he explained.
“This achievement underscores our commitment to the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals – a commitment by countries to limit average global temperatures to below 2degree Celsius”.
President Mahama described the ‘Tree for Life’ initiative as more than just an environmental program.
“It is about hope, resilience, and a sustainable future,” he said.
In his address, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, provided an overview of the initiative, emphasizing its timelines in advancing global ecological protection efforts.
He announced that, in the coming months, the government was set to launch a massive sensitization campaign to educate Ghanaians about the importance of trees.
Kofi Buah issued a clarion call to all Ghanaians and the diplomatic community to support the initiative.
“The Forestry Commission and partnering institutions will provide seedlings to all participants. The success of this initiative depends on the collective action of all. Let us all rise to the challenge, plant trees, nurture them, and ensure that Ghana becomes a beacon of environmental resilience”.
The Minister also touted the initiative’s potential to create jobs and reduce unemployment.
“We will collaborate with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to create sustainable livelihoods through fish farming, pig farming, apiculture, and agroforestry schemes. These efforts will improve rural livelihoods and enhance food security”.
–BY Daniel Bampoe
