Ghana’s President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has joined other world leaders in Sochi, Russia in a tree planting exercise on the sidelines of the first ever Russian-Africa summit. The event was part of an ambitious nationwide reforestation campaign launched by the Ministry of Natural Resources in September.

The landmark event laid the foundation for the revival of Russian–African relations and demonstrated that such issues as ecology, conservation, and the restoration of natural wealth are the same for all countries and peoples.

The ‘Save the Forest’ campaign, which was initiated by the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources, is being held to support the regions most affected by forest fires in the summer.

To date, more than three million Russians have provided support for the campaign. The tree planting at Southern Cultures Arboretum was attended by President of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, Acting President of Mauritius Barlen Vyapoory, and other official representatives of the delegations of countries participating in the Forum.

The Southern Cultures Arboretum is located in Sochi’s Adler District, not far from Olympic Park, where the events of the Russia–Africa Economic Forum and Summit are being held.

Over time, the fir trees planted by the Summit delegates will harmoniously blend into the landscape architecture of the Arboretum, which was founded more than 100 years ago.

The event as part of the ‘Save the Forest’ campaign kicked off the programme of the Russia–Africa Summit, which is being co-chaired by Russian President Vladimir Putin and President of the Arab Republic of Egypt and African Union Chairman Abdelfattah Al-Sisi. The Summit is devoted to prospects for Russia’s diversified relations with African countries, and then the first Russia–Africa Economic Forum.
The Russia–Africa Summit and Economic Forum is being organized by the Roscongress Foundation, the Russian Export Center and Afreximbank