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A retired Plant Taxonomist and Ethnobotanist at the University of Ghana, Prof Daniel Kwasi Abbiw has reiterated the need for the adoption of a national tree.
 
He contends that many countries have made this move which is paying dividends in different forms.
 
Prof Abbiw indicated that although nothing seems to be done about it, he and others will continue to advocate.
 
He stressed the need for the iroko tree, known as Odum, to be named the national tree.”
 
A national plant is one selected by a country to represent it. And that one selected might have contributed in one way or the other to the nation's development, either economically, culturally, in war, in peace and anywhere at all that the plant contributes.
 
For example, I selected Odum and the reason for choosing is that Odum has been used to build Ghana from the very beginning.”
 
Prof Abbiw noted that he has done a lot to bring the matter to the government’s attention, but he has not elicited any positive response yet.
 
He added that through the effort of Veteran journalist, Madam Elizabeth Ohene, he met President Akufo-Addo in 2019 to formally inform him about the copy of a book which contained the proposal for a national plant.
 
Prof Abbiw added that “he took it and said we will hear from him or they will work on it”.And that was the end.

He also indicated that they wrote to the Speaker of Parliament in January this year, but there has not been any response.
 
Prof Abbew said in the interim, they have set up a secretariat to champion this aspiration.
 
Be further said Ghana is not the only country on the continent without a national plant.
 
But it has the potential of spearheading that cause by coordinating and prosecuting this laudable initiative.
 
Prof Abbew noted that the iroko tree which can be grown in any part of the country should be considered and made the national tree.
 
He said as part of continental efforts towards conservation, African countries have been urged to present their national plants which will be compiled and infused into the school’s curriculum.