The Savannah Regional Minister, Hon. Salisu Bi-Awuribe, has directed all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the region to enact by-laws with punitive measures against commercial charcoal production to safeguard the environment and preserve forest resources.
The Minister issued the directive while addressing participants at this year's Tree for Life tree-planting exercise, where he described the indiscriminate felling of trees for charcoal production as a major threat to environmental sustainability.
The exercise forms part of the government's broader environmental restoration agenda under the Tree for Life Initiative, a flagship programme launched by President John Dramani Mahama to promote afforestation, agroforestry and climate resilience across the country.
According to the President, the initiative seeks to restore more than 80,000 hectares of degraded forest within the next four years, including the reclamation of mined-out lands.
Speaking at the event, the Savannah Regional Manager of the Forest Services Division (SFD), Mr. Frank Adomako, disclosed that Ghana is undertaking a nationwide tree-planting campaign from June 5 to June 30.
He noted that the Savannah Region is targeting the planting of 300,000 trees in off-reserve areas and more than 46,000 trees within forest reserves.
Mr. Adomako emphasized the critical role forests play in national development, stating that forest reserves provide raw materials for industries, generate income for families and sustain livelihoods in many communities.
He further stressed that healthy forests create jobs, support agricultural productivity, strengthen the economy and contribute to a more prosperous future for all.
The SFD Regional Manager also called for greater public awareness of the importance of trees in maintaining ecological balance, protecting biodiversity and improving livelihoods.
He noted that the environmental benefits of tree planting extend beyond local communities and contribute significantly to global efforts to combat climate change.
The event was attended by traditional authorities, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), heads of institutions, assembly members and other stakeholders who joined the tree-planting exercise.
Participants were encouraged to not only plant trees but also nurture and protect them to ensure the long-term success of the Tree for Life Initiative and Ghana's environmental sustainability goals.
Source: kashafmonline.com
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