The twenty-first session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF21)

Good morning, Mr. Chairman, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen!
If you are looking for a nation where citizens, farmers, and businesses move as one, not just to halt forest losses but also to reverse past damages, come to the beautiful country called Ghana – the Gateway to Africa. Ghana is home for me, and I am proud to say that in the past year alone, we have turned commitment into concrete action on three key Global Forest Goals, and with your permission I would like to highlight them.

In the last year alone, through our innovative flagship Tree-for-Life (T4L) Reforestation Initiative, we mobilized citizens and residents of Ghana, schools, businesses, and communities to plant over 30 million trees through Reforestation, Enrichment Planting, Trees-On- Farms and Assisted Natural Regeneration drives. And we are not stopping there; From June 2nd of this year, at the start of the rains and the planting period, we will commence this year’s edition to plant additional 30 million trees. But for us in Ghana, reforestation alone is not enough.

We have woven trees into the fabric of our farming systems. Under the Ghana Cocoa Forest REDD+ Programme, a climate-smart agroforestry initiative, we have integrated native tree planting into cocoa landscapes to boost yields, strengthen farmer resilience, while still being able to lock in measurable carbon benefits.

Mr. Chairman, let me also draw your attention to another significant milestone that speaks of Transparency and Global Trust. In August 2025, Ghana issued its first FLEGT license, becoming the very First in Africa, and second only to Indonesia, globally. That means that every timber product we now ship to Europe carries verified proof of legal and sustainable origin. That is transparency! That is accountability! That is Ghana leading by example!

We have also intensified enforcement against illegal logging and mining. We are diversifying forest finance with bold, creative instruments. And we have aligned every stride with the UN Strategic Plan for Forests 2030. We are proving that restoration, protection, and smart financing can walk hand in hand because we believe that our forests are not just resources, they are our legacy!
So, this morning, I want to invite you to walk with us under the renewed canopy of Ghana to safeguard our legacy for posterity and to do right by our planet.

Thank you for your audience