Students Are the Next Generation of Environmental Champions – Greater Accra Region Backs 2026 Tree for Life Launch
The Greater Accra Region has pledged full support for the 2026 Tree for Life Reforestation Initiative, with officials urging residents and students to plant trees and, more importantly, nurture them to maturity.
Speaking on behalf of the Greater Accra Regional Minister at West African Senior High School, *Chief Director of the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council, Rev. Harry Nii Kwatei Owoo*, welcomed dignitaries to the national World Environment Day celebration and nationwide tree planting exercise.
“We are particularly grateful to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the planning committee for selecting Greater Accra and this esteemed institution, West African Senior High School, as the venue for this year’s national event,” Rev. Owoo said.
World Environment Day = Collective Responsibility
Marking World Environment Day 2026, Rev. Owoo said the day “serves as a reminder of our collective responsibility to protect, preserve, and restore the natural environment upon which our survival and prosperity depend.”
He noted that globally, communities are confronting climate change, environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, deforestation, and pollution. “This challenge requires urgent and collective action by all of us,” he stressed.
He commended government for demonstrating commitment through interventions like the Tree for Life Initiative, which he described as a “visionary program” that seeks not only to increase forest cover but also to “instill a culture of environmental stewardship among citizens, especially the youth.”
Why a School Venue Matters
Rev. Owoo said choosing a senior high school as the venue was “particularly significant” because it underscores education’s role in shaping responsible environmental citizens.
“The students gathered here today represent the next generation of leaders – future policymakers, scientists, entrepreneurs, and environmental champions,” he told the students. “The tree planted today will serve as a living symbol of your commitment to safeguarding our environment for future generations.”
Greater Accra’s Environmental Challenges
As a region, Greater Accra continues to face rapid urbanization, loss of green spaces, poor waste management, and increasing vulnerability to climate-related events, Rev. Owoo noted.
“These challenges remind us that environmental sustainability cannot be left to government alone. It requires the active participation of every citizen, institution, community, and corporate organization,” he said.
He urged all residents of Greater Accra to embrace Tree for Life by planting trees and nurturing them. “It is only when the trees we plant grow to maturity that we can be proud of our actions,” he added.
Call to Youth
To the students, his message was direct: “I encourage you to become ambassadors for environmental conservation. Let your action inspire your families, your friends, and communities to adopt environmentally responsible practices. The future of Ghana’s environment rests largely on your shoulders.”
Rev. Owoo said today’s event marks “another important step in our national effort to build a greener, healthier, and more climate resilient Ghana.”
“Together we can restore degraded lands, improve air quality, conserve biodiversity, and leave a lasting environmental legacy for generations unborn,” he concluded, wishing all participants a successful tree planting exercise.
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, EPA Deputy CEO Prof. Jacob Anankware, traditional leaders, development partners, and students of West African SHS.
