On Friday, March 21, 2025, Ghana’s President, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, launched the ‘Tree for Life’ initiative. This flagship government program aims to promote afforestation and agroforestry across the country.

As part of the initiative, the government will distribute seven million seedlings of ornamental and food crops. These seedlings will be provided by various government agencies, the private sector, and the general public for nationwide planting.

The ‘Tree for Life’ program seeks to raise awareness about the vital role of trees. Trees protect the environment, combat climate change, and restore lands and rivers degraded by illegal mining, also known as galamsey. The initiative also aims to inspire Ghanaian youth to embrace environmental stewardship.

Speaking at a launch event in Nkawie, Ashanti Region, President Mahama reaffirmed his commitment to environmental protection. He announced that he had directed the Minister of Environment to begin the process of repealing LI 2462. This law was laid before Parliament on March 20 and will mature in 21 days. Once repealed, the President will no longer have the authority to approve mining in forest reserves.

“Our efforts go beyond fighting illegal mining,” President Mahama stated. “We are also focused on reclaiming degraded lands.” He mentioned a pilot project that restored 16 hectares of land. The plan is to expand this to 500 acres of reclaimed land each year, with a short-term goal of 10,000 hectares.

The President explained that ‘Tree for Life’ is part of a larger strategy to rehabilitate damaged river bodies. He also announced that Ghana will begin exporting FLEGT-licensed timber by June 2025. This will make Ghana the first African country, and the second in the world after Indonesia, to achieve FLEGT certification.

“The FLEGT initiative guarantees that only sustainably sourced timber enters the European Union,” he explained. “It helps fight illegal logging and promotes sustainable forest management.” He added that this achievement shows Ghana’s dedication to the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“As we approach 2030, we must intensify our efforts to meet climate and biodiversity targets,” he said.

President Mahama described the ‘Tree for Life’ initiative as more than just an environmental campaign. “It is about hope, resilience, and building a sustainable future,” he concluded.

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, also spoke at the event. He gave an overview of the initiative and emphasized its timeline and role in global ecological protection. He revealed that the government would soon launch a sensitization campaign to educate Ghanaians about the value of planting trees.

Hon. Buah urged all Ghanaians and the diplomatic community to support the initiative. “The Forestry Commission and partner institutions will provide seedlings to participants,” he said. “Its success depends on our collective effort. Let’s plant trees, nurture them, and make Ghana a green, resilient, and sustainable nation.”

He added that the initiative will help create jobs and reduce unemployment. The Ministry plans to work with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to develop sustainable livelihoods such as fish farming, pig farming, apiculture, and agroforestry. These efforts will boost food security and improve rural income.

The Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene, praised the program and promised full support from the region.