By Lawrence Odoom
Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah has disclosed that Ghana has eclipsed its 2025 reforestation target, with more than 31 million trees planted under the national “Tree for Life” Initiative.
Speaking at the launch of the 2026 edition on Friday, June 5, Mr. Buah described the feat as a landmark achievement in the country’s drive to rehabilitate degraded landscapes and fortify environmental resilience.
According to the Minister, Ghana surpassed the 30 million-tree benchmark through the convergence of effort from government agencies, traditional authorities, educational institutions, faith-based bodies, civil society, development partners, local communities, and the private sector.
He said the success underscores the potency of national collaboration in confronting ecological degradation and advancing ambitious climate goals.
“I am pleased to announce, as has already been stated, that in the 2025 edition of the Tree for Life Initiative, we planted over 31 million trees, even though the target was 30 million across the country, through the collective efforts of all of us,” he stated.
Mr. Buah cautioned that planting figures alone are insufficient. The true measure of success, he argued, lies in sapling survival and long-term forest regeneration.
For that reason, the 2026 edition will pivot sharply toward post-planting stewardship, rigorous monitoring, and sustained maintenance to elevate survival rates nationwide.
Mr. Buah charged all participants schools, institutions, communities, and individuals to assume custodianship of the trees they plant by watering them assiduously, shielding them from bushfires and other threats, and tracking their growth.
“For this reason, the 2026 edition of the Tree for Life Reforestation Initiative will place strong emphasis on post-planting care, monitoring and maintenance,” he added.
The “Tree for Life” Initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, remains a cornerstone of Ghana’s broader environmental strategy aimed at restoring forest cover, reversing land degradation, and bolstering climate resilience across the nation.