Treat Every Tree as a Living National Asset’ – EPA Deputy CEO to Ghanaians on World Environment Day
The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has urged Ghanaians to move beyond planting trees to actively protecting and monitoring them, as the 2026 Tree for Life Reforestation Initiative commenced alongside World Environment Day celebrations at West African Senior High School.
Delivering the speech on behalf of EPA CEO, Deputy CEO Prof. Jacob Paarechuga Anankware said climate action must be grounded in “data, science, discipline, and working together in a commercialistic manner” if Ghana is to respond to rising temperatures, floods, droughts, coastal erosion and biodiversity loss.
“World Environment Day 2026 calls for climate action. This is timely because our planet is already signaling heavier rainfalls, floods, droughts, wildfires, and changing weather patterns,” Prof. Anankware stated. “The question before us is: How quickly and wisely will Ghana act?”
From Planting to Nurturing
Prof. Anankware said the Tree for Life initiative is critical because it restores degraded landscapes, reclaims mined-out areas, enriches forests, and supports farms with seedlings. More importantly, it builds environmental and economic resilience.
“After today’s tree planting ceremony, we must work together to protect, water, monitor, own, and help these trees mature,” he charged. “I humbly call on all schools, assemblies, traditional authorities, faith-based organizations, youth groups, farmers, businesses, and households to treat every tree as a living national asset.”
He noted that every tree nurtured contributes to carbon sequestration, watershed protection, soil conservation, urban cooling, habitat restoration, and building resilient communities.
New EPA Framework & Digital Services
Highlighting reforms, the Deputy CEO said the *Environmental Protection Act 2025, Act 1124* and *Environmental Assessment Regulation 2025, L.I. 2504* are ushering in stronger climate governance. The new framework broadens environmental assessments, integrates climate change and biodiversity, improves public participation, and boosts enforcement powers.
EPA has also digitized its services. Permits, licenses, product registration, renewals, payments, and application tracking can now be done online. “This is not just a technological upgrade, it is an accountability reform,” he said. “A client in Navrongo, Bolgatanga, Bawku, Ellembelle, Tamale or Accra can start and follow a regulatory process without unnecessarily traveling.”
Operations have also been decentralized to district and area offices to bring regulation closer to communities where illegal dumping, line pollution, and illegal mining occur.
Crackdown on Illegal Mining & Plastic Ban
Prof. Anankware warned that mining remains vital to Ghana’s economy but “we cannot allow any economic activity to destroy the very ecosystems that support our livelihoods.” The EPA will monitor both legal and illegal mining. Concession holders must secure their areas and comply with environmental management plans, or face administrative penalties, suspension, or revocation of permits.
On plastic pollution, he confirmed government’s *ban on production, importation, distribution, sale and use of styrofoam and polystyrene takeaway packaging effective January 1, 2027*. He urged manufacturers, vendors and consumers to shift to reusable and greener alternatives during the transition.
The EPA is also advancing Extended Producer Responsibility so producers and importers take responsibility for post-consumer packaging, supporting a circular economy, jobs, and waste reduction.
Youth & Ghana’s Global Leadership
Speaking directly to students, Prof. Anankware said: “The future is not waiting for you. The future is already in your hands. Plant trees and protect them. Refuse littering. Reduce single-use plastic. Join environmental clubs. Learn about climate change. Report environmental offenses. Innovate. Volunteer. Speak up for your rivers, for your beaches.”
He added that under President John Dramani Mahama, Ghana has become the first country to officially report on *Sustainable Development Goal Indicator 14.1.1b on plastic debris density using citizen-generated data*. Ghana is also developing an *Article 6.2 framework* under the Paris Agreement to operationalize carbon markets, with a Singapore team currently working with EPA’s Carbon Market Office.
“May every tree planted today, may every child who plants a tree today, become a guardian of nature,” he concluded. “May Ghana continue to lead with courage in protecting the environment for present and future generations. Long live the EPA. Long live our environment. Long live Ghana.”
The event was attended by the Lands Minister and Acting Minister for Environment, Science & Technology Honourable Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, Deputy Lands Minister Alhaji Yusif Sulemana, Forestry Commission CEO Dr. Hugh C.A. Brown, traditional leaders, development partners, security services, and students of West African SHS.
