The Member of Parliament (MP) for the Bole-Bamboi Constituency and Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Alhaji Yussif Sulemana, has engaged students and staff of Bole Senior High School (BOSEC) in support of the government’s new ‘Tree for Life’ initiative by leading the planting of 100 tree seedlings on campus.
The nationwide afforestation programme, launched by President H.E. John Dramani Mahama on March 21, 2025, aims to distribute seven million seedlings, including both ornamental and food crops for planting by government agencies, private organizations, and the general public.
Speaking during a brief ceremony held at the school’s dining hall, Hon. Sulemana reaffirmed the government’s commitment to environmental conservation, stating that the Tree for Life programme seeks to raise awareness about the critical role of trees in preserving the environment, mitigating climate change, restoring lands degraded by illegal mining (galamsey), and fostering a culture of environmental stewardship among Ghanaian youth.
Hon. Sulemana said this initiative is not just about planting trees but it is about creating a connection between people, especially students and the trees they plant, saying, “We want to attach students to their trees and we want them to nurture these trees.”
Drawing a distinction between the new programme and the previous administration’s Green Ghana initiative, he remarked;
“You just don’t plant one day ceremoniously and say you have planted these number of trees and it ends there. We have learned from those mistakes.”
He explained that the Tree for Life programme will span an entire month, with tree planting activities rolled out in phases across the country to help meet national targets.
As part of long term efforts, the Deputy Minister announced plans to launch a “Tree for Life Club” in Bole, stressing the club will allow students to voluntarily register, receive seedlings, and take responsibility for nurturing the trees to maturity.
He emphasized that embracing innovative strategies will be key to the success of the programme.
Also present at the event was Mr. Frank Adumanku, Bole Sector Commander of the Forestry Commission, who underscored the spiritual and practical significance of plants in sustaining human life.
He said;
“God, in His wisdom, created plants to benefit both animals and man. We depend on trees and animals for food and for solving our daily problems.”
Mr. Adumanku lamented the growing degradation of Ghana’s natural environment due to activities such as indiscriminate tree felling, galamsey, and bush burning during hunting.
“These actions have destroyed forest reserves and sacred lands. There is a need to replenish whatever has been destroyed, willingly or unwillingly.” He said
He encouraged both teachers and students to take active part in the Tree for Life campaign as a meaningful step in combating climate change and restoring Ghana’s ecosystems.
Source: nkilgifmonline.com
