23-year-old Ghanaian journalist Abdul Hakim Awal has set a Guinness World Record for the longest hug of a tree, holding the embrace for 24 hours and 21 minutes.
According to a Guinness World Record report, Awal achieved this feat in Kumasi, Ghana, surpassing the previous record of 16 hours set by Ugandan environmental activist Faith Patricia Ariokot earlier in 2024.
The record attempt took place outside the Kumasi Cultural Centre, where onlookers gathered to support and cheer him on.
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Awal embarked on this challenge to draw attention to nature conservation in Ghana, and his efforts have now earned him a place in Guinness World Records. Initially, he pledged to plant a new tree for every minute of his record attempt, resulting in a total of 1,461 minutes.
READ ALSO: Ghanaian Man Sets Record for Most Tree Hugs in an Hour
Significantly, Awal was required to remain standing with his arms wrapped around the tree without any breaks throughout the duration of his attempt. Despite the difficulty, the 23-year-old’s persistence has garnered global recognition.
The record now stands at 24 hours and is officially classified as a ‘marathon,’ with the title updated to the longest marathon hugging a tree. Future challengers will be allowed breaks totaling up to two hours per day to address sleep deprivation.
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Abdul plans to use his record to launch a nationwide tree-planting campaign in Ghana, driven by his observations of desertification in his hometown of Garu. “We know how trees, an essential resource which the entire human race depends on, are becoming scarce in Ghana. Though we have been taught about the preservation of trees since the early years of our lives, the contribution from everyone is not as significant as it should be. This attempt for the longest time to hug a tree, to me, spells out an important task to preserve human life by preserving trees,” Awal said.
Awal follows forestry student Abubakar Tahiru, who set a record earlier this year for hugging the most trees in one hour, totaling 1,123. Additionally, a cork oak tree in France earned a Guinness World Record this year for being the tallest cork oak tree, standing at 21 meters (68.9 feet).
