The Ga West Municipal Assembly on Tuesday, June 16, launched the 2026 Tree for Life Initiative at the Assembly’s forecourt under the theme “Forests and Economies.” The programme aimed to promote environmental conservation while emphasizing the critical role forests play in supporting economic growth and sustainable livelihoods.

The event was attended by the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Hon. John Desmond Sowah Nai; the Municipal Coordinating Director, Mrs. Louisa Benon; the Presiding Member, Hon. Emmanuel Mawuli Amuzu; the Municipal Forestry Head, Mr. Ampianim, Assembly members, head of departments, unit heads and staff of the Ga West Municipal Assembly

In his opening remarks, Hon. Emmanuel Mawuli Amuzu urged participants to regard the initiative as a long-term commitment rather than a one-day exercise. He noted that many communities are already experiencing the adverse effects of environmental degradation and stressed the importance of trees to human survival. He encouraged residents to return to their communities and actively engage in tree planting to help safeguard the environment for future generations.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Municipal Forestry Head, Mr. Ampianim, stated that the initiative aligns with the Government of Ghana’s commitment to environmental restoration and sustainable development. He revealed that Ghana has set an ambitious target of planting 30 million trees this year, a goal that requires the collective support of government institutions, traditional authorities, educational institutions, the media, security agencies, civil society organizations, and individual citizens.

Mr. Ampianim described tree planting as an investment in the future and emphasized that the success of the programme would not be measured solely by the number of seedlings planted but by the number that survive and mature into healthy trees. He therefore called on Assembly Members and residents living near planting sites to take ownership of the trees and ensure their proper care and protection.

Addressing the gathering, Hon. John Desmond Sowah Nai described the occasion as both the launch of the 2026 Tree for Life Initiative and the municipal rollout of the REDD+ Programme (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation). He expressed concern over the continued destruction of forest reserves through deforestation, illegal logging, bushfires, and unsustainable land-use practices, noting that such activities often involve influential individuals.

The MCE commended the Government of Ghana and its development partners for promoting the REDD+ Programme, which seeks to balance environmental conservation with economic empowerment by creating alternative livelihood opportunities for forest-dependent communities.

Hon. Sowah Nai announced that there are ten pilot communities within the municipality. Abaase, Adjeiman, Mpemehusem, Akotoshie, Kutunse, Manchie, Dedeiman, Nsakina, Yahoman, and another selected community would benefit from a special intervention programme focused on planting, nurturing, and protecting trees. He explained that communities that successfully maintain and protect their trees would qualify for economic incentives and rewards tied to environmental performance.

According to the MCE, the initiative demonstrates that environmental protection can also generate economic value and contribute significantly to local development.

He concluded by calling on traditional authorities, Assembly Members, youth and women’s groups, farmers, schools, and residents to become custodians of the environment and work collectively towards restoring forest cover and building a greener, more sustainable Ghana.

During the tree-planting exercise, Mr. Ampianim reiterated that the responsibility of protecting and nurturing the planted trees rests with all citizens, emphasizing that sustained community participation is essential to the success of the initiative.

Source: Gifty Owusu Kattah and Isaac Nana Kwame Boadu, ISD-GWMA