Rainforest Builder Ghana has unveiled a massive native tree nursery in Bassengele, Bibiani. The facility can produce up to 5 million seedlings annually. It is now the largest of its kind in Africa. The nursery is part of efforts to restore 100,000 hectares of degraded forest land in Ghana. The project supports the country’s reforestation and climate goals.
More than 600 workers—most from nearby communities—are employed at the nursery. It uses advanced irrigation systems and is central to the company’s restoration strategy.
“This nursery is not just about trees,” said Enver Mapanda, General Manager of Rainforest Builder Ghana. “It reflects our long-term commitment to restoring Ghana’s forest landscapes.”
She said the work aligns with national goals on climate resilience, biodiversity, green jobs, and carbon removal.
Project Akwaaba and Reforestation Impact
Rainforest Builder Ghana was set up in 2023. Its main programme, Project Akwaaba, has already restored over 1,500 hectares in the Upper Wassa, Anhwiaso South, and Anhwiaso East reserves.
In 2025, the company aims to restore an additional 2,000 hectares, doubling the amount achieved the previous year.
“At the heart of our operations is a fully integrated value chain,” Ms Mapanda said. This includes seed collection, nursery work, planting, forest protection, financial planning, and access to the carbon market.
She noted that restoring forests also removes carbon dioxide from the air, generating carbon credits that can be invested in nature-based solutions.
Local Jobs and National Partnership
Ms Mapanda said the company plans to employ more than 900 workers this year. Local communities, she said, will be direct beneficiaries of the forest economy.
The company will also donate 10,000 seedlings to the Forestry Commission. This will support the government’s national tree-planting drive.
“We’re building inclusive and sustainable rainforest economies,” she added. “The people who live with and care for these forests must also be the ones who benefit.”
Government Support and 50-Year Lease
Dr. Hugh Clement Adokwei Brown, CEO of the Forestry Commission, attended the launch. He welcomed the project and said it came at the right time.
The government, he said, is targeting 30 million trees nationwide, with 40% expected to come from private firms.
“This ‘Akwaaba Project’ is evidence to show the world that Ghana is serious about deforestation,” Dr Brown said. He added that the project demonstrates Ghana’s commitment to restoring degraded land and combating climate change.
The company has a 50-year lease to operate and is currently focused on the Western North Region. Dr Brown praised Rainforest Builder Ghana for creating jobs and promoting sustainable growth.
