His Royal Majesty, Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has laid the foundation for the success of the 2022 Green Ghana project by becoming the first person to plant a tree in the Ashanti Region earlier today.
At the Royal Golf Course in Kumasi, the Asantehene performed the official planting ceremony with a clarion call on Ghanaians to participate in the exercise.
Prior to the planting of his tree, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II visited the mahogany seedling planted last year and was very impressed with the growth.
He indicated that with consistent watering and nursing of the seedlings, the trees will brood and develop to serve the purpose for which they were built.
The Ashanti Regional Minister, Hon. Simon Osei Mensah provided update on the more than one million trees planted in the Ashanti Region last year.
He disclosed that majority of the seedlings turned out well and that his office and allied agencies have been monitoring the progress of the trees.
He reserved special praise for the king for showing exemplary leadership by taking part in the exercise.
Hon. Simon Osei Mensah said that the regional office and regional Forestry Commission will make available seedlings to the general public for planting.
He said that Ashanti Region has a target of 2million trees but with the patronage and readiness shown so far, he is optimistic of the region beating the 2million mark.
“We were given a target of 1million last year but we planted about 1.5million. This year we’ve been given 2million but I have the belief that we will exceed that. If we all come together and plant the trees, we will do more than that.
“If we work hard, we will be able to return green cover. For those of us in Kumasi, it is important for us because we are the Garden City of the country. Lets work hard and bring back the glorious tag of Garden City”, he added.
The Technical Director of Lands at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. Maxwell Nsafoah said the government has set a lofty ambition of planting 20million trees but that will not be possible without the help of Ghanaians.
He indicated that the Ministry has procured enough trees for the exercise and will work hard to make it a success.
