Ghanaian Journalist sets Guinness World Record for longest tree hug

Abdul Hakim Awal, a Ghanaian journalist, has made history by breaking the Guinness World Record for the longest time spent hugging a tree.

His remarkable feat lasted an impressive 24 hours and 21 minutes, surpassing the previous record of 16 hours set by Ugandan environmental activist Faith Ariokot.

Awal’s record-breaking attempt took place outside the Kumasi Cultural Centre, where he was witnessed by officials from Guinness World Records.

He was not allowed to take any breaks during the attempt and had to keep his arms wrapped around the tree for the entire duration, Diaspora Digital Media understands.

“I wanted to do something unique and remarkable, something that would set me apart and make me memorable,” Awal said, explaining his motivation for attempting this record. “I also wanted to highlight the importance of nature conservation in Ghana.”

Awal pledged to plant a new tree for every minute his record attempt lasted, resulting in a total of 1,461 trees. “Though we have been taught about the preservation of trees since the early years of our lives, the contribution of everyone is not as significant as it should be,” he said. “This attempt for the longest time to hug a tree spells out an important task to preserve human life by preserving trees.”

This achievement makes Awal the second Ghanaian to set a tree-hugging world record this year.

In April, forestry student Abubakar Tahiru set a record for the most trees hugged in one hour, hugging 1,123 trees in 60 minutes.

Guinness World Records has modified the title of this record to “longest marathon hugging a tree,” allowing future challengers to take breaks to combat the effects of sleep deprivation.

“This means that future challengers will be permitted breaks (a total of two hours per day) to combat the harmful effects of sleep deprivation,” the organization said.

Awal now hopes to establish a nationwide tree-planting initiative, recognizing the scarcity of trees in Ghana and their essential role in human life. “We know how trees, an essential resource the entire human race depends on, are becoming scarce in Ghana,” he said.

Guinness World Record:

The Guinness World Records is a prestigious organization that verifies and records incredible achievements and exceptional feats from around the world.

Since its inception in 1955, the organization has been dedicated to documenting and celebrating human endeavors, natural wonders, and technological advancements.

With a rigorous verification process in place, Guinness World Records ensures the authenticity of record attempts, making it a trusted authority on record-breaking achievements.

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