Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II today planted a tree, as part of the Green Ghana Project.

The project is aimed at planting five million trees in a day across the country.

His daughter, Nana Afia Kobi Serwah Ampem Osei Tutu, also planted a tree to celebrate her 16th birthday today.

The trees were planted during a short ceremony organised by the forestry commission to commence tree planting at the Royal Golf Park at Danyame in the Kumasi Metropolis of the Ashanti region.

Other dignitaries who also planted trees include the Deputy Minister-Designate for Lands and Natural Resources, Benito Owusu Bio; Ashanti regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah; the regional Forestry Manager, Augustine Gyedu among others.

The Ashanti region planned to plant 1 million trees but according to the Regional Forestry Manager, Augustine Gyedu, seedlings distributed across the region have exceeded the target by 200,000 due to high demand for the seedlings.

The Deputy Minister-Designate for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Benito Owusu Bio complained about the severe degradation of the forest reserves due to illegal mining activities, illegal logging, bush fires and bad agricultural practices.

He stressed the need for Ghanaians to participate in the government's Green Ghana Project to restore and protect the degraded forest cover.

Public and private organisations and individuals are joining the tree-planting fray.

President Akufo Addo, Inspector-General of Police, James Oppong-Boanuh, ministers of state, parliamentarians, diplomats and the general public are participating in the Green Ghana Project.