The ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, has been in the news lately for all the right reasons.
The ministry, not too long ago, was perceived and rightly so, as one that was encouraging illegal mining, known as galamsey, which has led to the depletion of the forest reserve.
The ministry, has stirred up public applause since the assumption of office of the new minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor. For the minister to breathe a new lease of life into the ministry shows that, a lot can be achieved by others, as well when they put their minds to it.
But with the success of the ministry, comes critical questions that need asking. The ministry on March 23, 2021, launched the Green Ghana Programme.
Under the Green Ghana initiative, which will take place on June 11, 2021, a total of five million trees are expected to be planted in a single day across Ghana.
According to the minister, the rationale to plant five million trees in Ghana formed part of a strategy and a programme to embark on an aggressive afforestation to protect forests and the environment in Ghana.
From this perspective, it is pertinent that this newspaper, asks what has happened to the 5 million trees planted last year.
President Akufo-Addo, has declared June 10, as this year’s Green Ghana Day. The President made the declaration at the Accra International Conference Centre on March 1, 2022, when he launched the 2022 edition of the Green Ghana Day.
President Akufo-Addo said the 2022 edition of Green Ghana Day targets the planting of some twenty million (20,000,000) trees across the country. He called on all Ghanaians and residents of Ghana, to go out on June 10 to plant, encourage others to do same and commit to ensure that the trees planted reach maturity.
The initiative is a laudable one and must be commended by all, but we don’t have to also lose sight of the fact that, such similar ventures have only become avenues for siphoning money.
We must keep our eyes wide open to avoid the usual government sleaze.
