The Owoo family, the pre-acquisition owners embroiled in the ongoing controversy over the Achimota Forest Reserve has revealed that it has suffered “grave historical injustice” in the ongoing matter.

Expressing their disappointment over the alleged declassification of the Achimota Forest in Accra, the family indicated that it has not to date taken custody of any parcel of land in the Achimota Forest despite contrary claims.

“The Owoo Family, the pre-acquisition owners, of all the land acquired in 1921 and 1927 for the Achimota School, have suffered grave historical injustice. The family have had to, in the past, accept and/or acquiesce to terms to enable it move on which it strongly believes have been unfair and unjust.”
Owoo family

Contained in a statement by the principal elders dated May 19, 2022, the family explained that the much talked about August 19, 2016 ceremony which “has been erroneously stated in the public as an occasion when the land was released to the Owoo family is false and misleading”. It explained that the occasion was simply a sod-cutting ceremony for the development of the Achimota Forest into an Eco- Tourism Park and the Owoo family were mere invitees and guests.

Owoo family deny being compensated

Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Jinapor

The Owoo family opined that they have not been paid any compensation for the 1927 acquisition. The family expressed that it has petitioned all governments in the fourth republican dispensation and “indeed is yet to take possession of any parcel of land to date”.

“… The acreage due the Owoo family was arrived at through a long-standing negotiation which in many respects predates the current administration. This was done with the active involvement of various State technical negotiators and agencies. The Owoo family has petitioned all governments in the fourth republican dispensation and indeed is yet to take possession of any parcel of land to date”.
Owoo family

In concluding, the family expressed their commitment to conducting themselves in a manner which “will not compromise the ecological integrity of the adjoining forest reserve”. It further called on the general public to disregard any misleading contributions to the ongoing public discussions.

Prior to this, the Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Samuel Jinapor, at a press conference revealed that the Executive Instrument, E.I. 144, pertained to 361 acres of peripherals of the Achimota forest that the government is returning to its custodial owners, identified as the Owoo family. This, he explained, was because the land was not being used for its intended purpose, which included the extension of the Achimota School.

Mr Jinapor indicated that the constitution protects citizens from being deprived of their properties, as it requires government to ensure that when it acquires land, it ensures prompt, fair and adequate compensation is paid to the original landowners. He emphasized that the constitution demands that if the “government doesn’t use the land for a very long time, the government will have to return it to its pre-acquisition owners”, which in this case is the Owoo family.

Meanwhile, Former Lands Minister under the erstwhile Mahama administration, Inusah Fuseini, has revealed that the Owoo family was duly compensated by the British colonial government for the land. He noted that a compensation of £4000 pounds was paid in 1951 and 1957.