ACCRA, Ghana — MTN Ghana has joined forces with the Forestry Commission and the Rainforest Alliance to support the restoration of degraded sections of the Chipa Forest Reserve, reinforcing a growing private-sector commitment to protecting Ghana’s forests and strengthening environmental sustainability.
The initiative forms part of MTN Ghana’s Doing for the Planet sustainability pillar, which focuses on environmental stewardship and climate action. It also forms part of the company’s 2026 Sustainability Month, held under the theme “Small Actions: Big Impact,” as well as activities marking MTN Ghana’s 30th anniversary.
Under the partnership, approximately two hectares of degraded forest are being restored through the planting of 1,666 trees.
Because of the prevailing dry weather conditions, 833 trees were planted during the exercise, with the remaining 833 scheduled to be planted when the rains resume.
The exercise brought together MTN employee volunteers, officials of the Forestry Commission and representatives of the Rainforest Alliance, highlighting the importance of partnerships in protecting Ghana’s natural resources.
Trees at the Centre of Climate and Environmental Protection
Speaking at the exercise, Georgina Asare Fiagbenu, Acting General Manager for Sustainability and Shared Value at MTN Ghana, stressed the importance of trees to both human life and healthy ecosystems.
She noted that trees absorb carbon dioxide, release oxygen, regulate temperatures, protect soil, support biodiversity and provide habitats for wildlife.
She also pointed to their role in water conservation, erosion control and helping communities adapt to the effects of climate change.
Fiagbenu said the widely repeated warning that “when the last tree dies, the last person dies” should be understood as a serious reminder of the consequences of failing to protect Ghana’s forests.
The initiative comes at a time when forest protection and restoration remain major environmental priorities in Ghana.
Chipa Forest Reserve Faces Long-Term Pressure
The District Manager of the Tema-Ada Forest Services Division of the Forestry Commission, Linda Ansah, welcomed MTN Ghana’s intervention, describing it as a valuable contribution to ongoing restoration efforts.
According to Ansah, the Chipa Forest Reserve was gazetted in the 1960s but has experienced degradation over the years as a result of activities including illegal logging and unsustainable firewood harvesting.
The Forestry Commission has previously undertaken tree-planting activities at Chipa, including a 2025 exercise involving more than 1,000 seedlings to restore a degraded section of the reserve.
Rainforest Alliance Calls for Long-Term Care
The Country Director of the Rainforest Alliance, Nicholas Jengri, also welcomed the partnership and stressed that tree planting must go beyond putting seedlings into the ground.
He emphasised that restored forests support biodiversity and provide habitats for birds, insects, mammals and other wildlife.
More importantly, he said the success of the initiative would ultimately depend on whether the newly planted trees survive and mature.
“Planting trees today is only the beginning,” Jengri said, stressing the need to nurture and protect the trees so they can deliver lasting benefits to communities and ecosystems.
The Rainforest Alliance has extensive experience supporting landscape restoration and climate-resilience initiatives in Ghana, including programmes that bring communities, government and private-sector partners together around sustainable landscape management.
Monitoring Plan to Protect the Investment
Recognising that planting is only the first step, MTN Ghana and the Rainforest Alliance have established a monitoring and maintenance plan for the trees.
The plan includes regular assessments and watering where necessary, particularly during the current dry period, until rainfall resumes.
The approach reflects the broader principle that successful ecosystem restoration requires sustained care and protection rather than one-off planting exercises.
MTN Ghana to Make Tree Planting Part of Y’ello Care
MTN Ghana has also committed to making tree planting a regular feature of its annual 21 Days of Y’ello Care employee volunteering programme.
Through the initiative, employees will periodically return to planting locations to monitor the progress of trees, replace seedlings where necessary and undertake additional planting activities.
MTN Ghana’s sustainability framework places environmental responsibility under its “Doing for Planet” pillar, with commitments around eco-responsibility, emissions reduction, energy efficiency, water and waste management.
A Growing Corporate Role in Ghana’s Forest Restoration
The Chipa initiative is another example of private-sector organisations partnering with Ghana’s forestry authorities to address environmental degradation.
Across the country, the Forestry Commission is working with businesses, development partners and communities on forest restoration, biodiversity conservation and climate-related programmes.
Recent interventions include partnerships aimed at reclaiming degraded forest reserves, strengthening forest protection and expanding restoration activities.
For MTN Ghana, the Chipa project therefore represents more than an anniversary activity. It is an investment in forest restoration, biodiversity and the environmental legacy that future generations will inherit.
Related GhanaMedia.net Coverage
- Proforest Presents 22 Motorbikes to Boost Forest Protection in Ahafo Region
- Oda River Forest Reserve Faces Severe Environmental Pressure From Galamsey
- MTN Ghana and ACCA Equip SMEs With Practical Sustainability Tools
- Galamsey and the Growing Fight to Protect Ghana’s Natural Resources
- GMet Warns Accra Faces Increased Flood Risk as Heavy Rains Approach
- Ghana’s 2026 Sustainability and Investment Framework
Authoritative External References
- MTN Ghana
- Forestry Commission Ghana
- Rainforest Alliance
- UN Environment Programme – Ecosystem Restoration
- UNEP – Forests and REDD+
GhanaMedia.net | Original News. Real Impact.
