Report by Nana POKU
The Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Hon Owusu Bio has stated that his ministry will plant 20 million seedlings to continue the project started in June 2021.
The minister who stood in for the substantive minister Hon Abu Jinapor was briefing Newsmen on the current status of the much acclaimed project. He revealed that reports reaching his office indicate that, the project has been 85 % successful. He attributed this success to the enthusiasm and ecstasy with whh Ghanaians embraced the program with.
Initially, the Ministry earmarked 5 million Seedlings but individuals, foreign missions and organizations came in to support with about additional 2 million seedlings. This therefore raised the figure to 7 millon seedlings among other logistics.
The first project cost government 2 million Ghana cedis.
However, the next project will cost the ministry roughly 80 million gh cedis. Out of this government has given the ministry seed money of 9.6 million Ghana cedis.
According to the Deputy Minister, a seed costs about 4 Ghana cedis and simple arithmetic can give you 8 million Ghana cedis for the whole 20 million seedlings.
He stated that it is possible his ministry may exceed the target if the same interest is shown next year.
He said that in order to record a success some technical committees have been formed to ensure the success and sustainability of the project. He intimated that some errors encountered in the first exercise would be rectified to ensure bigger success rate.
He also said the president of the republic is keenly following the project and has given his blessings for it.
The Hon minister was so grateful to all individuals, organizations, embassies, churches, Moslems et al who supported the project to succeed He therefore urged all Ghanaians to participate to help replace our fast depleting forest cover through illegal mining, illegal lumbering and climate disorders. Additionally, most indigenous of trees species would be planted to replenish the depleting ones. About 13,000 ha of forest and devastated lands are to be affected in the exercise.
