The Forestry Commission is set to plant about twenty million different species of trees across the country from June 10, 2022 to mark this year's Green Ghana project.

The theme for this year’s project is “Mobilising for Greener Ghana”.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, John Allotey disclosed this during a courtesy call on the Volta Regional Minister. 

"The Commission is ready to start planting 20 million trees from next month and it is very necessary everyone gets involved," Mr. Allotey said. 

Mr. Allotey, who led a group of journalists and some staff of the Commission on a tour of some parts of the Volta Region, where the seedlings are being nursed, commended the Region's administrators for the good work done in regards to the green Ghana project.

He however urged residents to try as much as possible to exceed the limit this year.

"I am happy and excited that the people of the Volta Region are serious about the Green Ghana project and we will be happy if this year, we can exceed the limit," he stated.

The Volta Regional Minister, Dr. Archibald Yao Letsa said the Region is ready to undergo the planting exercise this year on June 10.

Dr. Archibald Letsa noted that the commitment from the churches and schools as well as the military was massive last year and hopes that Volta Region can plant more trees this year.

Dr. Letsa assured the Commission of the readiness of the Volta Regional Coordinating Council, to making sure that the residents exceed the limit this year.

“We are expecting that this year, with the publicity, the collaboration will be much more than last year. Churches, our mosques will all be involved and I can only assure you and the team that we are ready and I am sure when you go round, my people, the Regional Manager and District Manager and managers all over the Region will show you their preparedness, so that we can plant at least a million trees,” he said.

The Paramount Chief of the Avatime Traditional Area, Torgbe Osie Adzatekpor said the Traditional Area has made efforts to protect the forest but was distracted by the wood operators, a situation he said has been a headache to his area.

“In the last two to three years, we made a conscious effort to protect the forest and we were troubled by chain saw operators. Chain saw operators have been a thorn in our flesh. We tried to do whatever we can but you know when big men are behind some people we cannot talk. Police also don’t help,” he said.

He noted that residents of the Traditional Area have plans to plant more trees in the area and so are excited about the exercise

“I have been yearning very much to be part of this programme and so on our own, we had some agreements with Clean Ghana experts who claim they are part of the green Ghana project and we started nursing here to plant some of the ornamental trees,” he stated.

Togbe Osie Adzatekpor, however, urged the commission to take particular interest in the use of some agrochemicals which have destroyed some of the plants.

The Ho Municipal Manager of the Commission, Newton Annobil, who took the media through the different types of plants to be planted was hopeful for a successful exercise in June. 

The Commission encouraged the general public to show enthusiasm for the exercise as the seedlings are free of charge.

Last year, the Volta Region planted 200,000 different species of threes across the 18 districts during the Green Ghana project by schools, security agencies and churches.