UE/R: ‘TREE FOR LIFE’ CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED IN UPPER EAST REGION

BY: Millicent L. Dahamani

On Friday, March 21, 2025, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, launched the ‘Tree for Life’ initiative, a flagship government program aimed at promoting afforestation and agroforestry.

The initiative, led by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources in partnership with the Forestry Commission, seeks to plant 30 million trees across Ghana by the end of the rainy season. The nationwide campaign aims to restore degraded lands, especially in areas affected by illegal mining and deforestation, while also creating sustainable livelihoods for local communities.

Kongo Senior High School in the Upper East Region hosted the Upper East Regional Launch of the government Initiative program  where 500,000 seedlings are expected to be planted, 100,000 in Bawku District, and 200,000 each in Bolgatanga and Nabdam Districts.

The Headmistress of Kongo Senior High School Mrs. Gifty Ayamba welcomed the opportunity to host such a national event, describing it as historic. In her remarks, the Headmistress of Kongo SHS expressed deep appreciation for the selection of her school as the regional launch site. She used the platform to appeal for urgent infrastructural support. “Since attaining boarding status in 2012, our student population has grown to 2,091, with only 137 teaching staff. Yet, we lack basic facilities such as classrooms, dormitories, an administration block, and a school bus,” she stated.

Despite the challenges, the school recorded significant academic success in the 2023 and 2024 WASSCE examinations, with students achieving aggregate scores of 7 and 12 respectively. She called on the regional minister to expedite the completion of the school’s security post, stressing its importance in protecting the newly planted trees and sustaining the initiative’s legacy.

Speaking at the event, the Regional Forestry Manager Mr. David Appiah Adjei   highlighted the multifaceted goals of the project: restoring polluted water bodies through the Blue Water Initiative, promoting biodiversity, supporting agroforestry, ecotourism, and fish farming, and integrating urban greening into city planning. A central objective of the campaign is to instill environmental consciousness among youth and schoolchildren, emphasizing the importance of nurturing the seedlings into full-grown trees. “We urge everyone not only to collect but to nurture the seedlings to maturity,” he said, urging community members to participate actively in the greening effort. Seedling distribution centers have been established at various nursery sites to facilitate local participation. He added.

The Upper East Regional Minister, Hon. Donatus Akamugri Atagna indicated that the Government’s goal is not only environmental restoration but also economic revitalization through green jobs in seedling production and landscape management. He added that the Tree for Life campaign is being rolled out simultaneously in other regions, with President Mahama leading the nationwide effort. He emphasized that every Ghanaian has a role to play in this initiative, reinforcing the adage, “When the last tree dies, the last man dies.” As the campaign gains momentum across Ghana, the Kongo SHS ceremony has set a precedent for youth engagement, community involvement, and national collaboration towards a greener, more sustainable future”, He added.

The Regional Minister led other Dignitaries in the Ceremonial Tree planting.

Traditional leaders, were present to lend their support to the campaign. Their involvement, reflects the community’s cultural commitment to environmental stewardship.

Also in attendance were The DCE for Nabdam Constituency, heads of departments, religious leaders, media, and local dignitaries.