Some tree seedlings planted in Accra as part of the government’s ambitious Green Ghana Project, held on June 7, 2024, have encountered destruction, signaling a setback.
The initiative, which aims to plant 10 million tree seedlings nationwide, seeks to bring the total number of trees planted since 2021 to 54.5 million.
Despite efforts to improve survival rates, stray animals and encroachers have damaged some of the newly planted trees. In the Okaikoi North Municipality, the Assembly responsible for implementing the project has taken protective measures such as caging and fencing to safeguard the 10,000 trees planted there.
Municipal Chief Executive Officer Boye Laryea explained that, due to previous experiences, they are now caging trees that are likely to be affected by individuals uninterested in the tree-planting initiative.
During a visit to the Apenkwa Roundabout by ChannelOne News, where tree seedlings had been planted, the area was found to be fenced and locked to prevent encroachers from damaging the trees.
Similarly, at the Achimota District Courts, some plants were observed to be caged in wooden structures, although this did not completely prevent goats and other stray animals from destroying some of the trees.
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has announced that it will release official data and survival rates in the coming days.
Launched in 2021, the Green Ghana Project aims to restore Ghana’s depleted forest cover and combat climate change, with previous editions reportedly achieving a 71% to 85% tree survival rate.
