As Ghana intensifies efforts to reduce its carbon footprint by 2030, the role of corporate institutions in enhancing the country’s vegetative cover has become increasingly vital.

Leading the charge is Prudential Life Insurance Ghana, which has committed to planting 5,300 seedlings at Obane in the Ada East district between June 5 and June 30 this year.

Prudential Life Insurance Ghana’s Head of Sustainability, Gifty Owusu, in an interview with Joy News, emphasises that protecting the environment is invaluable.

“In the past, residents of this community cut down the mangroves for fuelwood and charcoal, which led to the degradation of the essential ecosystem. Today, restoring these mangroves is both urgent and necessary,” she stated.

According to her, the company deems it a great privilege to contribute to the national environmental efforts as part of the sustainability agenda being championed by President John Mahama.

She said of the 2,000 mangrove seedlings planted last year, 1,700 survived.

“We are replenishing the 300 lost seedlings and planting an additional 5,000, bringing the total for 2025 to 5,300 seedlings. By the end of this exercise, we would have planted 22,300 mangrove seedlings since 2022,” Gifty Owusu explained.

Gifty Owusu was happy about the Obane community involvement.

The restoration exercise is being done in partnership with Strategic Youth Network for Development, the Forestry Commission, Ada Senior High School and community members.

Stakeholders believe the project is important as it targets an ecologically critical yet underserved area where Ghana’s mangrove cover is vital to coastal protection and biodiversity.

Prudential Life Insurance Ghana maintains that while the country’s green initiative supports planting of trees like mahogany, ofram, mango, orange, coconut, among other tree crops, it lacks focus on mangroves needed for coastal resilience.

Gifty Owusu added that the exercise is helping rebuild natural defences against flooding and erosion, as this will support the livelihood of community members.

For them, the situation is even worrying as the Forestry Commission puts the current mangrove cover at 72.4 km2, but about 35% has been lost due to urbanisation, overexploitation, wildfires, and climate change in the last few decades.

Manager of the Songor Ramsar Site and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Ernest Apenkwa, said the exercise has economic benefits for the local community.

“This swampy, ecologically significant area is home to mangroves, migratory birds, marine turtles, and other biodiversity.

"The red mangroves especially provide critical nursery grounds for fish and crabs, which support the community’s livelihood,” he shared.

Despite successive chalked, bushfires remain a challenge.

“ We plan to create fire belts to protect the seedlings. We seek binoculars, computer systems and logistical support to aid in monitoring marine life, particularly the endangered species,” Mr. Apenkwa added. 

Strategic Youth Network for Development Mangrove Project lead, Salomey Adjei, touched on flooding in the area.

“These seedlings will not only grow to resist flooding but also open up alternative sources of livelihood, including beekeeping. However, mangrove restoration demands collective effort. These vulnerable communities lack the resources to build climate-resilient futures alone,” she stated.

She urged more organisations to step in to support such impactful projects and help communities to withstand the effects of climate change.

Meanwhile, Patron of the Wetlands Club at Ada SHS, Anthony Arthur and students were excited to be part of the exercise, which will ensure sustainability.

Unit Committee Secretary, Eric Addo Tetteh Osa and Gladys Ocansey, who represented the community, are grateful to the partners for helping address this challenge in line with World Environmental Day.