The Forestry Commission has launched its month-long “Trees for Life” programme in Ghana's Ashanti Region, aiming to plant 3 million trees by the end of June. This initiative will aggressively restore degraded forests across the region.
The programme prioritizes heavily degraded forest reserves such as Tano Offin, Jimira, and Offin Shelter Belt. The Commission will also limit individuals to not more than five seedlings each. This restriction ensures that seedlings are properly nurtured and planted, addressing past issues of low survival rates for distributed trees.
This planting drive forms part of Ghana’s broader economic and environmental strategy to combat deforestation and climate change. Forestry activities contribute significantly to rural livelihoods and the national carbon sink. Restoring forest lands can also indirectly support industries like eco-tourism and sustainable timber production, diversifying the region’s economic base. The Ashanti Region has historically shown strong commitment to reforestation efforts.
Isaac Noble Eshun, the Ashanti Regional Manager of the Forestry Commission, stated, “This year, in fact, most of the planting will be done in our forest reserves. The degraded areas, mined-out areas that we are reclaiming.” This underlines the Commission's focus on managed reclamation. Dr. Frank Amawakohene, the Ashanti Regional Minister, also pledged to compel Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to promote household tree planting.
The success of the “Trees for Life” programme will depend on strong public cooperation and effective management by the Forestry Commission. Investors and environmental agencies will watch closely to see if the 3 million tree target is met. Continued vigilance against illegal logging and mining, locally known as 'galamsey', remains crucial. The focus on managed forest reserves should lead to higher survival rates for the newly planted trees. This effort will also likely prompt further discussions on sustainable land use policies across the country.
The Ashanti Region has previously demonstrated an 85% success rate in tree survival from past plantings. Last year alone, the Commission distributed and planted approximately 2.5 million seedlings. Offinso Forest District planted 737,415 seedlings, while Kumawu District planted 81,000. These figures demonstrate the substantial capacity and experience the region has in large-scale reforestation. The new campaign builds on these established successes and aims for an even larger impact. This initiative will help Kumasi regain its “Garden City” reputation. This re-enforces local pride and environmental awareness.