The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has disclosed that per its preliminary checks, there is no record that shows the lands listed in the late Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie known as Sir John’s Will, belongs to him.
In a statement by the Lands Minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor, he indicated that per the Ministry’s preliminary inquiries, the alleged Will in question is a subject matter of litigation or contestation in the courts.
“The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources refers to its press statement dated 22nd May, in which the Ministry committed to inquire into the allegations relating to the acquisition of parcels of lands at the Achimota Forest and the Sakumono Ramsar Site by the late Former Chief Executive Officer of Forestry Commission, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie(Sir John).
“Further checks at the Lands and the Forestry Commissions, the repositories of the records of the lands in question, show no record of ownership of Lands at, the Achimota Forest or the Sakumono Ramsar Site, by the late Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie.”
Samuel Jinapor
According to the Minister, the Achimota Forest and Sakumono Ramsar Site lands cited in the alleged Will of the late Forestry Commission CEO will not be inherited by anyone even if ownership by the deceased is established.
“That said, given the totality of the circumstances of the said allegations, I, as Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, have directed the Forestry Commission to deem any ownership of lands, both in the Achimota Forest and the Sakumono Ramsar Site by the late Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie as void and are to take the appropriate actions accordingly.”
Samuel Jinapor
Samuel Jinapor noted that the lands which is the subject matter of the alleged Will, shall remain public lands, whether or not it falls within the de-gazetted lands pursuant to EI 144.
The Minister disclosed that, government will act on any improper acquisition of any public lands regardless of how it was procured , whether now or in the past, and the Achimota Forest lands will not be an exception.
Be transparent with investigations
Prior to this, the Former Member of Parliament (MP) for Tamale Central, Inusah Fuseini, urged the Lands Ministry to be transparent when investigating from the beginning to the end of the alleged inclusion of Achimota Forest land in the will of the late CEO of the Forestry Commission Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, popularly known as Sir John.
“…because that could have consequences on the credibility of what he [Samuel Jinapor] will be doing.”
Inusah Fuseini
According to Inusah Fusieni, both sites; the Achimota forest and the Ramsar Site come under the jurisdiction of the Forestry Commission, so it is important for the people to understand the circumstances under which the former Chief Executive Officer acquired those properties.
“I think the beginning of it is to investigate the circumstances under which Sir John acquired the parcel of pieces of land in the Achimota forest. And also, the circumstances under which he acquired parts of the Ramsar site which is a protected site as well.”
Inusah Fuseini
The decision to launch the investigation followed the publication of a Will, purported to be by Sir John. The one page document has been circulating on social media and follows an affirmation by the government that it will protect the forest reserve in Achimota.
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