In observance of the 2024 Green Ghana Day, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) Programme, Forestry Commission, and the Church of Pentecost, planted 1,000 tree seedlings at the Chipa Forest Reserve in Agomeda in the Greater Accra Region.

This was one of several tree planting activities undertaken by UNDP to promote environmental sustainability. UNDP also joined other members of the diplomatic community to plant trees at the Achimota Forest. 

Under the auspices of the African Women & Children Conference initiative, UNDP joined the Second Lady of Ghana, to plant seedlings at the Labone Senior High School, and launched the Africa Students for Climate Action (ASCA) club, aimed at encouraging students’ engagement in actions that benefit the planet.

The Green Ghana Day, launched in 2021, forms part of government’s national afforestation and reforestation program to restore the country's lost forest cover and contribute to global efforts to combat climate change.

This year’s event, themed “Growing for a Greener Tomorrow”, aimed to highlight the importance of volunteerism in restoring degraded landscapes and mitigating climate change by harnessing the power of collective action.

Addressing participants at the Chipa Forest Reserve, Mr. Samuel Appiagyei Danquah, Project Management and Technical Officer at UNDP Ghana, explained that “the initiative's goal is to restore 50 hectares of the severely degraded Chipa forest. The restoration effort is part of a larger efforts to revive the entire 2,410-hectare forest reserve, which has been destroyed”, he noted.

Francis Ofosu, the UNV Partnership and Mobilization Officer, stressed on the importance of volunteerism in mitigating the impact of climate change. Calling on everyone to get involved in saving our environment. He added that “the fight against climate change requires a collective effort. That is why the collaboration between UNDP, UNV and the Church of Pentecost, is so timely, aiming to protect our environment and ensure a greener tomorrow for generations to come”. 

In addressing the measures to curb bushfires in the Chipa Forest Reserve, Mr. Kwabena Bajaben a Forest Range Manager with the Forestry Commission, stated that; “the Forestry Commission remains committed to raising public awareness about the risks and effects of bushfires, as well as the importance of promoting sustainable farming practices that preserve Ghana’s forest cover” he stated.

Through the collaborative effort of the three institutions, which led to 1000 tree seedlings planted, the Green Ghana Day commemoration at the Chipa Forest Reserve marked a significant step towards restoring the degraded forest and promoting environmental sustainability.