Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel A. Jinapor, ahead of the 2023 Green Ghana Day, has paid a courtesy call on the Omanhene of the New Juaben Traditional Area, Daasebre Kwaku Boateng to among others, court his support for the 2023, edition of the Green Ghana Day

Along with the Deputy Minister responsible for Lands and Forestry, Hon. Benito Owusu-Bio, and other officials of the Ministry, Mr Jinapor sought the Omanhene’s permission and blessing as he equally commissioned the Forestry Commission’s Eastern Regional Office.

In his remarks, the Minister revealed that the issues of climate change have become a nationwide concern and for that reason, Ghana under the leadership of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo instituted the Green Ghana Project to help contribute its quota to the fight against climate change and also to restore the country’s degraded landscapes and Forest cover.

Owing to this, Mr Jinapor therefore requested the Chief to lead his people during the 2023 Green Ghana Day, scheduled for June 9, 2023 to plant some 10 million trees which he believes will go a long way to complement government’s aggressive afforestation and reafforestation efforts.

The lands minister informed the Paramount Chief that his Ministry under the instructions of the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is working on divesting public lands which he is aware is of outmost importance to the traditional authorities.

The natural resources of the country, the Minister indicated, remain the property of the people of Ghana, and Government, and through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, will continue to pursue policies and programmes for the effective and efficient management and utilization of these resources for the benefit of the Ghanaian people.

On his part, the Paramount Chief of the New Juaben Traditional Area, Daasebre Kwaku Boateng, received the Minister and his entourage and gave his blessing for the commissioning of the Forestry Commission Regional Office while applauding him for his commitment and hardwork since he became Minister.

He however bemoaned the wanton destruction of lands in the country through illegal small-scale mining, popularly known as galamsey, which he noted are gradually destroying Ghana’s water bodies. With this, he requested that the Minister doubles up efforts to bring an end to the cause of this destruction before it completely cuts off the country’s water supply.

Subsequently, Daasebre assured the Minister of his support and that of his subjects on the 2023 Green Ghana Day while requesting him to frequent the region more often.

Prior to his visit to the Omanhene’s Palace, the Lands Minister paid a courtesy call on the Eastern Regional Minister, Seth Kwame Acheampong who accompanied him on his tour of the Region.

Lands minister commission ultra-modern office complex

Meanwhile, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources has commissioned an ultra-modern office complex for the Eastern Regional Forestry Commission.

The facility, comprises of thirteen offices, a conference room, kitchenette and reception which will help the Regional Forestry Commission execute its mandate in the seven forest districts in the region.

Addressing the gathering at the event in Koforidua, the lands minister touched on the impact of climate change on the country and the world at large. He noted that government, being aware of the dire consequences of climate change, has taken decisive and far-reaching forest-protection policies which are anchored on two important pillars – aggressive afforestation and reforestation and protection of the existing forest cover of the country.

Being a feature of the aggressive afforestation module, Mr Jinapor explained that it is the Green Ghana project which is the flagship afforestation program of the government. With the 2023 edition of the Green Ghana Project set for June 9, the Lands Minister leveraged on the opportunity to rally Ghanaians towards the event.

Laying emphasis on the grave situation the world finds itself in with respect to the impact of climate change, the Minister appealed to Ghanaians to participate in the event which he is certain will enable the country recover a significant size of its lost forestry cover and contribute to global efforts towards reducing climate change.

“Government’s policy in respect of the forestry sector of the country is anchored on two main pillars. The first one is our strategy of aggressive afforestation and reforestation. By this, we are talking about restoring the forest cover of our country. The statistics tell us that from 1902 till date, we’ve lost some 80% of our forest cover of our country and therefore it is the policy and strategy of government to be involved in reafforestation and reforestation which is why several initiatives have been put in place including several interventions in forestry areas in our country to ensure that we plant more trees. That is why on June 9, 2023 we are going to have the President lead the country to plan 10million trees which will take us to 30million plus trees since 2021.”
Samuel Jinapor