The Member of Parliament for New Juaben South Constituency, Mr Michael Okyere Baafi, has cautioned against the politicisation of the Green Ghana Project, which is aimed at preserving the country’s natural environment and resources.

The project, which is being spearheaded by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and its allied agencies, was unveiled in March 2021 to encourage Ghanaians to plant, at least, five million trees countrywide.

The national initiative would see to the eventual restoration of Ghana’s forest cover and water bodies, which had been destroyed in recent years, largely, through illegal activities, including unauthorised mining in forest reserves.

Speaking at the Eastern Regional launch in Koforidua, Mr Baafi, stressed the imperative need for every citizen to join the mission to ensure its success.

“We should do away with any political activity that will dent the purpose of making Ghana green,” he said.

He added, “Over politicisation of issues in the country has become an albatross on our neck which we all need to put a stop to it.”

He appealed to the people of Koforidua and all Assembly Members in the municipality to avail themselves of the cause of planting trees without any political considerations.

On behalf of the New Juaben South Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Isaac Appaw-Gyasi, the Municipal Coordinating Directing, Kofi Amoako Tweneboa also called on all and sundry to get involved in the tree planting exercise.

He stated that 30,000 seedlings would be planted within the New Juaben South Municipality alone and encouraged everybody to support the course towards preserving the environment.

He said the rationale to plant trees countrywide forms part of the government’s strategy and programme of action to undertake aggressive afforestation to protect Ghana’s forests and environment.

Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources indicated in March during the launch that the initiative was a joint responsibility for which more broad-based support was required to address the adverse degradation of Ghana’s forest and ecosystem.