Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Sam Nartey George, has expressed the need to take issues pertaining to Ghana’s ecological economy seriously.
Contained in a Facebook post made on May 23, 2022, he revealed that it is vital to preserve the Achimota forest reserve and not entrust it to private individuals.
“We need to take the issues of our ecological economy very seriously. Any attempt to put an environmental asset like the Achimota forest in the hands of private persons irrespective of political affiliation is criminal and reprehensible”.
Sam George
In a similar post on Facebook, the North Tongu Member of Parliament, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, revealed that the Owoo family, the family reported to be the custodial owners of lands where the Achimota forest is located in Accra, will definitely “enter record books as Ghana’s biggest extended family”. He indicated that from all indications it is much clearer now that “OWOO is a code for Officials Within Organized Operations”.
“The reason I went to the Supreme Court in 2008 against public officials buying govt lands — BAN this now!”
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
Lands Ministry investigates late Sir John’s Will on Achimota forest
Prior to this, the Lands Ministry in a press statement on May 22, 2022, stated that it is investigating claims that the late and former Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, popularly known as Sir John, gifted part of the Achimota Forest lands to his relatives.
The Ministry highlighted that it takes a serious view of the allegations and has requested for all documents relating to the lands in question as part of an initial inquiry to ascertain the veracity of the claims.
According to a photograph of a portion of Sir John’s Will which circulated social media on Sunday, May 22, 2022, it revealed that three different lands said to be situated within the Achimota Forest have been distributed to some of his family members.
Reacting to this, the Lands Ministry explained that considering that the issues that form the basis of the allegations predate the tenure of the current Minister, Samuel Jinapor, it is important that he is “seized with the full facts to enable him take appropriate action, if indeed, there is any merit in the claims”.
“The Ministry assures the general public and the good people of Ghana that it will ensure that the national interest is protected at all times, especially in matters pertaining to the Achimota Forest”.
Lands Ministry
The Minority in Parliament, wading in on the conversation has also highlighted the environmental effects of government’s decision to reclassify the Achimota Forest Reserve as a commercial or residential zone. In a statement, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) lawmakers noted that the Achimota Forest is the only existing “greenbelt” in the country’s capital.
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