Over the years Ghana has experienced depleting forests. There are numerous reasons for this such as: forest fires, Illegal charcoal production, China’s exploitation of Ghana’s rosewood trees, uncontrolled mining and logging as well as the expansion of cocoa farms. In April 2021 Ghana’s Lands and Natural Resources Ministry launched a GREEN GHANA initiative which aimed to plant 5 million trees in a single day across the country. The government provided free seedlings to people of all walks of life including those in our little village here in Damongo.
The date set for the big event was June 11, 2021. On
Thursday, June 10th 6,600 teak and 700 mahogany seedlings were
delivered to our Secretariat. That very day over two hundred Primary and Jr.
High students came and collected 460 seedlings. On June 11th, the
day of the event, hundreds of trees were distributed.
Fr. Felix from St. Anne’s Cathedral collected 200
mahogany seedlings to plant on the grounds of the new Cathedral. Fr. Francis
Xavier drove over two hours to deliver 250 seedlings to one of our Diocese’s 13
parishes. Other parishes sent trucks and cars to collect their share of these
very healthy gems. When I left the Secretariat Friday at 5:00 p.m. men were
busy planting the 500 trees they were allotted. The students at St. Anne’s
Girls’ Catholic Senior High School where I live planted over 500 teak seedlings
in just two days.
I am so proud of the country which I have called home
for over two years now. WAY TO GO GHANA!
