Sekondi: Madam Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, Deputy Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, has charged Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to adopt the Green Community Initiative launched by the Department of Community Development. She urged the MMDAs to incorporate the initiative into their 2026-2029 Medium-Term Development Plans.
According to Ghana News Agency, Madam Odoley Sowah, who is also the Member of Parliament for La Dadekotopon, announced this at the national launch of the Green Community Initiative in Sekondi, themed 'Building Resilient and Sustainable Communities Through Green Economy Development'. The event was attended by students from Methodist Senior High School, Kansaworodo, and staff of the Department from Accra and Sekondi.
She stated that MMDAs would be assessed on measurable indicators such as tree survival rate, waste reduction and recycling outcomes, community participation levels, and the creation and maintenance of green public spaces. The Ministry intends to publish a quarterly Green Community Initiative league table to recognize outstanding performance, encourage healthy competition, and support districts facing implementation challenges.
Mr. Stephen Blay, National Director of the Department of Community Development, highlighted that the initiative aims to build climate-resilient, environmentally conscious communities through sustainable tree planting and greening programmes across all 16 regions. The Department plans to plant and sustain two million trees nationwide by the end of 2028 to reduce climate vulnerability through afforestation and biodiversity conservation.
Mr. Blay mentioned that the project would create green economic opportunities for women, youth, and local entrepreneurs, and promote environmental education and behavioural change at community and school levels. Mr. Joseph Nelson, Western Regional Minister, pointed out that despite the region's economic potential, it faces challenges such as deforestation, poor waste management, degradation of water bodies, and the impact of illegal mining.
He remarked that the focus on environmental sustainability, sanitation improvement, and community ownership aligns with the development aspirations of the region and the nation. Mr. Timothy Anaba, Coordinator of the Department in Accra, noted that economic fruit trees would be planted to create jobs and livelihoods for vulnerable groups.
The initiative plans to plant two thousand trees nationwide in 2026, with 1,000 earmarked for the Western Region alone. The Department targets planting 30 million trees in the next 4-5 years. Madam Joyce Obiri-Yeboah, Western Regional Director of the Department, mentioned that the initiative would beautify the environment, reclaim degraded lands from galamsey, and restore biodiversity and ecotourism.
Nana Kwesi Agyemang, Paramount Chief of Lower Dixcove Traditional Area and chair of the function, appealed to traditional rulers to protect the land, stating, 'When the land is green, it benefits the community.'