A 23-year-old journalist from Kumasi, Ghana, Abdul Hakim Awal, has achieved a new Guinness World Record by hugging a tree for the longest duration. His “tree-hug-a-thon” took place outside the Kumasi Cultural Centre and spanned an impressive 24 hours and 21 minutes.
This remarkable feat surpasses the previous record of 16 hours, set earlier this year by Ugandan environmental activist Faith Patricia Ariokot. Abdul’s record attempt was not just about setting a new milestone; it was also a call to action for nature conservation in Ghana. In a show of commitment, he pledged to plant a tree for every minute he spent hugging the tree, resulting in a total of 1,461 new trees to be planted.
During the challenge, Abdul was required to stand continuously with his arms wrapped around the tree, as no breaks were permitted under the Guinness World Record rules. Now that the record stands at 24 hours, it has been classified as the “longest marathon hugging a tree,” allowing future contenders a total of two hours of breaks per day to counteract the negative effects of sleep deprivation.
Interestingly, Abdul is not the first Ghanaian to make headlines with a tree-hugging record this year. Abubakar Tahiru, a forestry student, previously set a record for hugging the most trees in one hour, with a total of 1,123 trees.
Meanwhile, the achievement has sparked mixed reactions on social media, particularly on X (formerly Twitter), where some users have questioned the significance of a tree-hugging record. Nigerians, in particular, have humorously mocked Ghanaians for their enthusiasm in pursuing unconventional records.
