President John Dramani Mahama has launched the ‘Tree for Life’ initiative, a bold afforestation and agro-forestry program aimed at restoring Ghana’s degraded lands.
Speaking at Nkawie in the Ashanti Region on Friday, March 21, 2025, he reaffirmed his government’s commitment to tackling illegal mining and reclaiming lost forest cover.
He revealed that a pilot project had successfully restored 16 hectares of land, with plans to scale up to 500 acres of reclaimed land per year, targeting at least 10,000 hectares in the short term.
Emphasizing Ghana’s dedication to environmental sustainability, President Mahama highlighted how the Tree for Life initiative aligns with both national and international commitments.
He noted that it complements the Blue Water Initiative, which was launched to rehabilitate polluted water bodies. He also announced that by June 30, 2025, Ghana will become the first African country and only the second in the world after Indonesia to export FLEGT-licensed timber to the European Union.
He explained that the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance, and Trade (FLEGT) action plan ensures that only legally licensed timber is imported into the EU, an important step in combating illegal logging and promoting sustainable forestry practices.
As part of Ghana’s commitment to the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the President urged a collective national effort to accelerate climate action.
He described the Tree for Life initiative as a symbol of peace, hope, and resilience, calling on all Ghanaians to participate. The Forestry Commission, alongside other institutions, will provide seedlings to encourage tree planting, and the President invited Development Partners to support the program.
In addition to afforestation efforts, President Mahama also announced legislative reforms to safeguard Ghana’s forests. He directed the Minister of Environment to begin the process of repealing LI 2462, a legislative instrument that currently allows the President to unilaterally grant authorization for mining in forest reserves.
The ‘Tree for Life’ initiative signals a renewed commitment to environmental protection, with ambitious goals to restore Ghana’s forests, combat illegal mining, and secure a sustainable future for generations to come.
