The Ashanti Region Seedling Contractors Association has called on the government to pay the over GHC2.3 billion it owes its members for the supply of seedlings for the tree planting exercise during the Green Ghana Day celebrations for 2021 and 2022.

According to the association, several engagements with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Forestry Commission for the government to pay them have been unsuccessful despite the many assurances.

The Secretary of the Ashanti Region Seedlings Contractors Association, Gloria Amponsah, called on President Akufo-Addo to intervene in ensuring that they are paid to lessen their burden. She revealed that members are currently frustrated as they are constantly being harassed by banks they secured loans from to procure the seedlings.

“The situation is really hurting us. A lot of people are in trouble and the law courts are attacking them. We have gone to the Forestry Commission several times to no avail, sometimes we even sleep there but all the promises have not come true. When we go there, they treat us like we are not humans, they don’t feel for us. As I stand here, I have five children, I went in for a loan but when we go there, they treat us like we are not part of Ghana. And so, we call on Akufo-Addo, please come to our aid.”
Gloria Amponsah

Proposed allocation for Green Ghana day celebration

Meanwhile, the Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, has proposed allocating two days per year to the government’s Green Ghana Initiative. This, he revealed, is to help preserve the country’s forest reserves.

Contributing to a statement on floor of Parliament he stated that the two-day event will aid in the conservation of the country’s forests.

“We started the tree planting with one day but if you look at the rate at which our forests are being destroyed, I propose that, it should be two days in a year. So, for instance, if we are able to get 10 million a day, that is 20 million trees planted because this is something the whole country has come to support. I believe that taking two days in a year to do this will be fantastic and be able to help grow more trees as quickly as possible.”
Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah

Prior to this, Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources responsible for Lands and Forestry, Hon. Benito Owusu-Bio, disclosed that President Akufo-Addo will in the month of April, launch the 2023 edition of government’s aggressive afforestation/reforestation programme.

According to him, the Green Ghana Day is to help restore the country’s degraded landscapes. He explained that this year, the Green Ghana Day has been scheduled for June 9, 2023, with a target of 10 million seedlings to be planted across the country, 6 million on-reserve and 4 million off reserves.

Mr Owusu-Bio expressed gratitude to the Speaker of Parliament, and the Parliamentarians for taking active part in the Green Ghana Day since its inception, while congratulating them for nurturing all trees planted during the event and ensuring a 100% survival rate.

Mr Owusu-Bio employed the opportunity to appeal to all Ghanaians and the international community to embrace and support the 2023 Edition just as they have demonstrated high enthusiasm in the previous years.

The deputy lands minister noted that to observe the International Day of Forests, the Forestry Commission had a week-long programme for school children. This, he indicated, was aimed at creating awareness and active involvement of children in the celebration.

To this end, Mr Owusu-Bio called on all and sundry to support the vision of the President to restore the country’s degraded landscapes for better nutrition, better environment and a better health for all. He also noted that the measures being embarked on by Government through the Ministry are yielding some positive results.