In a bold and transformative address to mark World Environment Day 2025, President John Dramani Mahama announced a ban on the use of wood for school furniture and the imminent prohibition of Styrofoam packaging materials in Ghana, declaring that “we can’t be planting trees and cutting them down at the same time.”
Speaking at the Kwabenya Community Day Senior High School, where he launched the One Child, One Tree project, President Mahama stressed that the time has come for Ghana to adopt a “fundamental shift” in how development is approached — putting sustainability, resilience, and equity at the core of national policy.
“Soon, a directive will be passed: school furniture will no longer be made of wood,” he declared. “Why don’t we use recycled plastic or metal instead? That is the future.”
He further announced plans to ban the production and importation of Styrofoam, one of the most persistent plastic pollutants. “Styrofoam is one of the biggest polluters in our environment,” he said. “Our food packaging will now be made from paper or aluminum foil.”
The President’s keynote initiative, the *One Child, One Tree program, aims to engage every school-age Ghanaian in planting and nurturing a tree, contributing to an ambitious goal of tens of millions of trees by 2030.
Seedlings will be selected to suit each region’s ecological conditions, and students will receive guidance from teachers, environmental officers, and traditional leaders. The trees, he said, will not only stabilize soils and cool cities but serve as “a lesson in responsibility, sustainability, and civic pride.”
The initiative builds upon the broader Tree for Life Afforestation Program, launched earlier this year, which targets the restoration of 7 million hectares of degraded land. The 2025 national tree planting exercise — also launched today — will run until June 30 and seeks to plant millions of trees across the country.
This year’s World Environment Day theme “Ending Plastic Pollution” aligns with Mahama’s call for a national transformation in waste management. Ghana aims to reduce plastic in landfills by 60% by 2030 through mandatory waste segregation, recycling programs, and green entrepreneurship.
Communities from Tamale to Takoradi are already implementing color-coded bins and recycling initiatives. Mahama commended market women, faith-based groups, and youth volunteers for leading clean-up efforts, especially ahead of the rainy season.
The President also lauded joint efforts by the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Lands, and national security agencies in battling illegal small-scale mining (galamsey). Out of 88 forest reserves invaded, 44 have been declared “red zones” and are being reclaimed.
“Our rivers take their source from these forests,” he warned. “Destroying the forests means drying up our rivers. This fight is critical if we are to hand over a good environment to future generations.”
President Mahama’s speech closed with a heartfelt appeal to all Ghanaians:
“Let us refuse single-use plastics. Let us sort our waste at home. Let us teach our children by example that a clean, green Ghana is not only possible — it is a necessity.”
He also announced upcoming regional tree planting festivals, national clean-up drives, and an annual Green Innovation Expo to showcase Ghanaian solutions to environmental challenges.
With global partners promising to assist in planting up to 30 million trees, Mahama emphasized the urgency and promise of this moment. “Let us leave behind a living legacy for generations yet unborn.”
Ghana|Bullettvonline.com|Ebenezer Madugu
