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Ghanaian Breaks Record for Longest Tree Hug

Abdul Hakim Awal, a 23-year-old journalist from Kumasi, Ghana, has made history by setting a new Guinness World Record for the longest time spent hugging a tree. Awal hugged a tree for an impressive 24 hours and 21 minutes, surpassing the previous record of 16 hours held by Ugandan environmental activist Faith Patricia Ariokot.

Awal’s “tree-hug-a-thon” took place outside the Kumasi Cultural Centre, where he embraced the tree without any breaks, pledging to plant a new tree for every minute of his record attempt. This commitment will result in 1,461 new trees being planted.

The rules of the challenge required Awal to remain standing with his arms wrapped around the tree for the entire duration. Guinness World Records has confirmed the record and categorized it as a “marathon” event, allowing future challengers to take breaks totaling two hours per day to manage sleep deprivation effects.

Awal’s motivation for this challenge was to raise awareness about the importance of nature conservation in Ghana. He hopes to launch a nationwide tree-planting initiative, citing the devastating effects of desertification in his family’s hometown of Garu.

Awal is not the first Ghanaian to achieve a tree-hugging record this year. Abubakar Tahiru, a forestry student, set a record for the most trees hugged in one hour, with a total of 1,123. Additionally, a cork oak tree in France secured its own Guinness World Record as the world’s tallest cork oak, standing at 21 meters (68.9 ft).

 

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