The annual Green Ghana Day initiative, introduced by President Akufo-Addo in 2021 to combat deforestation and address climate change, is rapidly gaining traction as a beloved tradition in the Ghanaian calendar.

With nationwide support, the initiative aims to restore Ghana's lost forest cover and contribute to global efforts in mitigating climate change.

As part of this ambitious afforestation programme, Compassion International Ghana (CIGH) and its partners joined forces in 2022, distributing over 18,000 seedlings for planting on Green Ghana Day. Now, a year later, CIGH has taken the opportunity to reflect on the impact of these seedlings and unveiled a comprehensive monitoring tool, revealing the survival of 8,030 trees out of the 16,670 seedlings planted.

In a distinguished gathering at the Afienya District Police durbar, attended by prominent community stakeholders such as Nene Tetteh Afutu III, Chief of Afienya; Chief Superintendent Emmanuel Nana Ofori, District Police Commander of Afienya; Reverend Raymond Afutu Nartey of Immanuel Methodist, Afienya; and Chief Imam of Afienya, Imam Amadu Rufai Alhassan, the National Director of Compassion International Ghana, Kobina Yeboah Okyere, emphasized the importance of effectively monitoring tree planting exercises undertaken on Green Ghana Day.

He urged that such monitoring becomes an integral part of the initiative to ensure the achievement of its afforestation goals. Furthermore, He disclosed Compassion Ghana's mission to plant a tree for each participant enrolled in their programme, which currently stands at over 97,000 individuals.

District Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Emmanuel Nana Ofori, commended Compassion International Ghana and its church partners for their initiative in monitoring the planted trees. He encouraged the adoption of this mechanism to ensure accountability in future tree-planting exercises. The dignitaries present at the durbar, after delivering their remarks, actively participated by planting additional seedlings and monitoring those sown a year ago at the same venue.

Compassion International Ghana is a Christ-centered organization dedicated to transformative child advocacy and holistic child development, encompassing physical, cognitive, socio-emotional, and spiritual aspects. Their focus lies particularly on ‘releasing children from poverty in Jesus’ name’.

Through their church partners and global sponsors, Compassion Ghana aims to break the cycle of hardship by equipping children with the skills and resources necessary to improve their social standing and benefit their communities.

Operating as part of the global brand Compassion International, headquartered in Colorado Springs, United States, Compassion Ghana stands committed to their mission of creating lasting positive change in the lives of Ghanaian children.

As the Green Ghana Day initiative continues to gain momentum, the call for comprehensive monitoring of tree-planting exercises echoes through the words of the National Director of Compassion International Ghana. With the survival of 8,030 trees as evidence of progress, it is clear that effective monitoring should become the norm to ensure the initiative's success in enhancing afforestation coverage and combating climate change.