Accra: Dr David Wilfred Ochan, the Country Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), has called on Ghanaians to plant trees on their birthdays as a personal effort towards restoring the nation's tree cover and safeguarding the environment. Speaking at the launch of UNFPA's Tree Planting Campaign at O'Reilly Senior High School in Accra, Dr Ochan emphasized the significant impact of individual contributions to the national 'Tree for Life' target of 30 million trees annually.
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr Ochan highlighted that if every Ghanaian planted just one tree each year, the country could surpass the set target. He urged individuals to commemorate their birthdays by planting a tree, viewing it as a gift to nature. The campaign, which will run until 2030, includes unique features aimed at deepening ownership and responsibility, such as encouraging people to plant trees equal to their age and institutions to plant trees correlating with their years of existence.
Dr Ochan described the initiative as 'simple but transformative.' He noted that it would not only contribute to climate action but also foster environmental responsibility across generations. He envisioned a future where each school, student, and institution plants trees by age, building a sustainable system to maintain the initiative.
The UNFPA's Tree Planting Campaign intends to focus on schools, health facilities, and public parks to engage young people and illustrate the connection between trees, cleaner environments, and improved quality of life. The launch event aimed to plant 1,000 trees and included partners such as the Ghana Education Service, Forestry Commission, Department of Parks and Gardens, Ghana Health Service, National Youth Authority, and civil society organizations.
Dr Ochan called for stronger national leadership and collaboration to sustain the effort, emphasizing the vital role of both in-school and out-of-school youth. He encouraged making tree planting a rallying cry for health, protection, and sustainability.
Mr. Francis Aniagyei, the Headmaster of O'Reilly Senior High School, referred to tree planting as a 'solemn commitment' to climate action. He assured that the trees planted by the school would be meticulously maintained to thrive. 'We plant hope, commitment, and a sustainable future. Let's begin planting for our future,' he stated.
