The Herald’s investigations into the 361.50- acre chopped off from the Achimota Forest land by the Akufo-Addo government and given out to the Owoo family, have revealed that the persons allocated the parcels are afraid to have their allocations registered at the Lands Commission.
As at last Friday, no single individual, group or company, has been bold enough to go to the Commission, with their indentures and prove of an agreement between them and the Owoo family mentioned by the country’s 39-year old Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, as the new owners portions of the forest reserve.
The Minister, had in several interviews since the issue broke, mentioned that the Owoo family, had already been given the 361.50- acre land and had even released portions of same to some private persons and organizations who were waiting for the Executive Instrument (E.I.) 144 to come into force and have their interests legally established and documented by the Lands Commission.
Portions of the Executive Instrument “gazetted on behalf of President Akufo-Addo by Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, had indicated “that effective May 1, 2022, the land on which the Forest is located shall cease to be a forest reserve” but 22 days of the document came into force, no single plot of the forest reserve has been documented as allocated to a new owners.
This suggests the Akufo-Addo government still has time to revise it decision based on the public outcry against the decision to allow private and commercial interests into forest reserve as it has been proven with documentary evidence that the Owoo family got compensated by the British colonial government to the tune of £4,000 the equivalent of £1.2 million today, for the use of the Achimota land.
Meanwhile, radio broadcaster Kwame Nkrumah Tikese, has also revealed that a non-member of the Owoo family, has acquired 20 acres of Achimota Forest land in his private capacity.
The Herald last Friday also published the existence of a long list of beneficiaries which include officials at the seat of government; the Jubilee House, the Attorney-General’s Department, President Nana Akufo-Addo’s household, state officials, their friends and cronies, religious leaders, churches among others.
Insiders have alleged that First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo, has played a leading role in the release of the 361-acre land to the Owoo Family using her ties to Osu, where the Owoo family is said to hail from to convince government officials to release the prime land to the family.
The family had several times failed in the law courts to get the land back, but getting it now through a mere petition to the Akufo-Addo government.
Through the First Lady, The Herald is informed that a prominent church in Accra, whose owner is a friend of hers, has acquired a huge parcel of the 361-acre land, to build a massive auditorium.
Discussions on the colossal plot of land covering over 40percent of the Achimota Forest, The Herald learnt, was concluded some two years ago, revealing that the Executive Instrument (EI 144) was a mere formality that had to be satisfied to pave way for those who also got the land, under the guise of the Owoo family to legitimize its use.
Speaking on Thursday, May 19, 2022, edition of his Ade Akye Abia morning show, Kwame Nkrumah Tikese lamented that some persons who are not members of the pre-acquisition owners have been granted ownership of portions of the land.
“Charles Owusu yesterday questioned the government on whether it was only the Owoo family who had been given the lands.”
“Because some of us know other persons who have received huge portions. Someone has acquired as much as 20 acres with each single acre containing four plots of land. That’s enough to build 80 houses.”
“They have shared it, and you will be amazed at the calibre of people in Ghana who have acquired some of the lands,” he alleged.
The lands minister in his press conference on Tuesday, May 17th, 2022 insisted that the government, contrary to the reports of attempts to destroy the forest, is rather focused on revamping the Achimota Forest.
According to the minister, the government’s plans for the forest include developing it into an eco-park. However, on the matter of redevelopment, Kwame Nkrumah questioned the government’s motive saying “I am asking a question. I was privy to the discussions of eco-tourism. I sat in a meeting about it and so some of the things I say are not hearsay.”
“How did it happen that a company called Ibistek which birthed that concept; to the extent that one of its leaders went for a bank loan to develop the master plan and invested heavily into the project, was later dumped and the contract given to Ikan Capital?”
“I was a witness to the planning,” he stated.
As of August 2016, Aikan Capital Limited, through its Chief Executive Officer of Yaw Oheneba Otchere, was going to construct a US$1.2 billion ecotourism project in Accra in partnership with the Forestry Commission.
It had the support of the then Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Nii Osah Mills as well as, President John Dramani Mahama, who was represented at the sod-cutting ceremony by one Bugri Tia, who planted a seedling to symbolize the commencement of the construction of the Accra Eco Park.
Charles Owusu, a former Director of Operations for the Forestry Commission has blamed greed for the sale of parts of the Achimota Forest, insisting that, some government appointees have made it a point to be richer than the government and therefore are engaged in grabbing government properties without any form of conscience.
“It’s sad because individuals are becoming richer than the government. People who are given the opportunity to serve in government take the position as their personal property and do what they want to become rich. It’s just like the Agyapa deal they want to introduce, that’s not the solution,” he said on Okay FM.
He indicates that claims that the Owoo family are the only beneficiaries of some portions of the land are untrue.
He challenged the sector Minister to publish the names of beneficiaries of the Achimota Forest if he has nothing to hide.
“When we explain now, most people will not understand so I will give you an exclusive. We will make the people of Ghana know what has gone on at the Achimota Forest. If only the owners have come for their land then they should publish the names of people who benefited from the land,” he said.
Speaking on the subject, the former General Secretary of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwabena Agyepong, urged government officials and the public to desist from taking actions that negatively affect the environment.
Mr. Agyepong described as unfortunate the situation where many open spaces, especially in Accra, are being concretized, making it difficult for rain-water percolation leading to flooding.
Speaking on Asempa FM on the controversial declassification of parts of the Achimota Forest reserve, Mr. Agyepong, a trained environmental engineer, said Ghana’s green belts must be left intact and not given to private people.
“I am an environmental engineer, so I know the green cover is very important. If you look at the map of Accra since 1900, we’ve lost about 60% of the green cover. Today, we’ve cleared everywhere and when it rains, there is no percolation into the ground and that is causing a lot of the floods we see. The pre-development ecosystem is too damaged. We all have a role to play,” he said.
He further chastised government officials in the business of selling out State lands to private developments, which he said has led to the State making very little to no profit.
“Many lands of the State, somehow, they’ve all been sold to private developers. All these developments in Cantonments, Labone, should have made the government rich. If it is true that the part of the forest is being given out, I disagree with it.
We have to protect the environment. Some people think this is an opportunity to sell lands to private individuals,” he noted.
Interestingly, the Osu Traditional Council is contesting the release of Achimota Forest reserve to the Owoo family, who claim to be the allodial owners of the land.
Nii O.T. Ankrah, a spokesperson of the Osu Stool, said on Angel FM’s Anopa Bofo Morning Show that the forest “perfectly” belongs to the Osu Stool but it was handed over to the State for the construction of Achimota Senior High School and subsequently, its extension.
He explained, “the Owoo family is from Ga Mashie; they cannot come from Ga Mashie and come into the bosom of someone’s land and say that land belongs to them.”
Nii O.T. Ankrah said, “the land first belongs to the State – so Ga Mashie – La – Osu – [then] the state. Now when it moves to the State, it comes to the family; that’s the Weku, the Wei then when it comes to the family, it comes to the individual…so if it is not for Gbese then how did it come to Owoo Family?
“We have a problem with where the government is sending the land to…So, the Gbese family would be surprised to learn that it [the land] has been given to the Owoo Family…
“Our concern is that if the government says they are releasing the land then it should go to the rightful owners, the 136 acres should go to the rightful owners…,” he emphasized.
The Spokesperson of the Osu Stool buttressed his points with legal suits pursued by a former Osu Chief, Nii Akonortei.
Proving that the Osu Stool is the real custodian of the Achimota lands, Nii O.T. Ankrah noted, “…because as of July 28, 2011, Suit SOL/21/2020 Nii Akonortei vs Lands Commission on the release of 172 acres of Achimota Forest then in 2014 Nii Akornotei vs Lands Commission on the release of the same 172.68 acres which was granted. There were appeals which were all dismissed.”
