The National Democratic Congress Member of Parliament for Tamale North Constituency in the Northern Region, Honorable Alhassan S. Suhuyini has called for a comprehensive overhaul of the government’s ongoing reforestation initiative dubbed Green Ghana.
Honourable Alhassan S. Suhuyini, the Deputy Ranking Member of the Lands and Forestry Committee of Parliament in a scathing critique voiced strong criticisms of the initiative, arguing that the current approach is insufficient and flawed.
He described the Green Ghana initiative, the current government-led reforestation project aimed at combating deforestation and climate change as lacking efficacy and transparency.
“It is worse that our forests and green spaces have been so compromised due to the government’s unwillingness to defeat illegal mining and its reckless policies; such as the self-serving declassification of Forest Reserves and sale of the same lands to private developers and cronies. Eg Achimota Forests and Tamale Timber Market and the promotion of legislation on mining in Forest Reserves. Eg EPA LI2462”.
Honorable Alhassan S Suhuyini MP, Tamale North
While acknowledging the noble intentions behind the Green Ghana project, Honorable Suhuyini highlighted several critical shortcomings that undermine its potential impact on the environment.
He emphasized that the campaign’s limited scope and execution fail to address the broader issues of forest conservation and natural reserve creation.
According to Honorable Suhuyini, merely planting millions of seedlings once a year does little to combat the ongoing challenges of deforestation and climate change facing the country.
Issues of Corruption and Inefficiency
One of the primary concerns raised by the Deputy Ranking Member of the Lands and Forestry Committee of Parliament, Honorabl Suhuyini is the apparent corruption and inefficiency within the procurement process for the Green Ghana project.
He pointed out that the project has become a conduit for corrupt practices, with seedling supply contracts and promotional materials often awarded to “cronies” at inflated prices without competitive bidding.
This, he emphasized has resulted in significant financial burdens for the Forestry Commission, which faces mounting debts due to unpaid contracts.
“According to the Seedlings Contractors Association in Ashanti Region last year, 2023, the Government owed them Ghc 28 million for 2021 and 2022 seedling supplies”.
Honorable Alhassan S Suhuyini MP, Tamale North
Lack of Monitoring and Evaluation
Moreover, the Member of Parliament for Tamale North Constituency criticized the lack of proper monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to ensure the survival and growth of the planted seedlings.
He recounted that despite the impressive figures of seedling survival rates touted by the project, the lack of consistent maintenance and care has led many of these seedlings to fail to thrive, resulting in wasted resources and negligible environmental benefits.
Call for Sustainable Reforestation Efforts
The National Democratic Congress lawmaker, in a fervent call to action, stressed the necessity for continuous reforestation efforts throughout the year to effectively restore forest cover, enhance air quality, and preserve biodiversity.
He urged the government to reevaluate its approach to the Green Ghana project and adopt a more sustainable and long-term strategy for reforestation.
Honorable Suhuyini further emphasized that continuous, consistent, and transparent efforts, coupled with rigorous monitoring and evaluation, are essential for achieving significant and lasting environmental protection and climate change mitigation.
He also stressed that by addressing the issues of corruption, inefficiency, and inadequate monitoring, and by committing to ongoing reforestation efforts, Ghana can make more meaningful strides toward environmental sustainability and climate resilience.
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