By Sarah Baafi
On March 21, 2025, President John Dramani Mahama officially launched the groundbreaking ‘Tree for Life’ initiative, a national afforestation program aimed at planting seven million trees to restore degraded lands and combat climate change.
Speaking at the launch in the Ashanti Region, President Mahama emphasized the program’s focus on sustainability. “This is not just about planting trees but ensuring they grow, thrive, and provide long-term benefits for our communities,” he stated. He also announced plans to repeal LI 2462, which currently allows the President to authorize mining in forest reserves. “Once repealed, this will mark a significant step in protecting our forests,” he added.
The initiative aims to address environmental challenges such as illegal mining (galamsey), which has severely degraded river bodies and lands. A pilot project has already successfully reclaimed 16 hectares of land, with plans to expand this effort to 500 acres annually.
Economic and Social Benefits
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, highlighted the program’s potential to create jobs through agroforestry and allied activities like fish farming and apiculture. “This initiative will not only restore our environment but also provide sustainable livelihoods for rural communities,” he remarked.
Global Recognition
President Mahama also announced that Ghana would begin exporting Forest Law Enforcement, Governance, and Trade (FLEGT)-licensed timber by June 2025, making it the first African country to achieve this certification. “This underscores our commitment to the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals,” he noted.
The program calls for collective action from all Ghanaians. “Let us all rise to the challenge, plant trees, nurture them, and ensure Ghana becomes a beacon of environmental resilience,” urged Minister Buah.
The initiative represents a significant step toward a greener Ghana and a sustainable future for generations to come.
