Environment Minister Launches World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought in Tamale

The Minister for Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Hon. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, has officially launched the 2025 World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought in Tamale.

 

This year’s global theme is “Restore the Land, Unlock the Opportunity,” while Ghana is observing the day under the national theme “One Child, One Tree.”

The Minister explained that the national theme aims to instill environmental consciousness among children by encouraging each child in Ghana to plant and nurture a tree. This initiative is part of broader efforts to promote reforestation and build climate resilience across the country.

He noted that the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, declared by the United Nations, seeks to raise public awareness on the urgent need to combat land degradation and protect ecosystems.

He emphasized that the event goes beyond ceremonial observance—it is a call to action from the land itself. From the dry, cracked soils of the Savannah to depleted farmlands and galamsey-devastated sites, the minister said the message is clear: the land is pleading for restoration.

“Desertification and drought are not distant threats. In Northern Ghana, we face them daily. They endanger our food security, water supply, biodiversity, and ultimately, our survival,” he said.

The Minister cited increasing pressures from deforestation, overgrazing, unsustainable farming, and climate change, particularly in the five regions of the North. These issues are degrading the soil and limiting the future potential of the land. However, he offered hope, stating that, “Our lands can heal—if we commit to restoring them.”

The Northern Regional Minister, Ali Adolf John  highlighted the importance of the day as a platform to unite in the fight against land degradation and climate threats. He noted that this marks the fourth time the Northern Region has hosted the national celebration.

He commended stakeholders for their support in previous editions and expressed hope for an even more impactful event this year. He emphasized the relevance of the theme “One Child, One Tree” in the context of Ghana’s Tree for Life Afforestation Initiative 2025, which aims to plant over 30 million trees.

“With children making up about 40% of our population and representing our future, the theme is timely and strategic. I encourage all stakeholders to involve children meaningfully in tree-planting and reforestation efforts,” he said.

The Regional Minister also reaffirmed the Northern Regional Coordinating Council’s full commitment to supporting all initiatives geared toward combating desertification and drought.

In a statement read on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Professor Nana Ama Browne Klutse, it was revealed that the EPA is spearheading several land restoration projects.

 

These include the Northern Ghana Environment and Sustainable Land Management Project, Pilot Reclamation Projects in Mining Areas, and District-Level Environmental Monitoring Initiatives.

She stressed that restoring land goes beyond tree planting. “It’s about revitalizing entire ecosystems, enhancing food and water security, creating green jobs, and empowering women, youth, and marginalized groups to thrive in a greener economy,” she said.

 

Through flagship initiatives such as One Child, One Tree, the Sustainable Land and Water Management Project, and the Adoption Fund Project, Ghana is making significant progress in land restoration and climate resilience.

Source:Fiilafmonline/Walkiyatu Issahaku