– writes to Lands Commission and Forestry Commission
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, yesterday, Thursday, May 26, 2022, requested for information on all transactions affecting the one thousand one hundred and eighty-five (1,185) acres of land acquired by the State in 1927 and constituted a Forest Reserve in 1930 under the name Achimota Firewood Plantation Forest Reserve.
Two separate letters, have been dispatched to the Forestry Commission and the Lands Commission to that effect.
But there are doubts, if he would make his findings public to help Ghanaians appreciate the extent of the state land grab which many have described as an “elitist conspiracy” as it cuts across the political divide, with senior army and Police officers, private sector operatives, businessmen, party financiers, lawyers, judges, journalists among others.
However, there are reports that, the government intends to set up a Commission of Inquiry into the land grab with a Justice of the Supreme Court as its chairperson to delve into the matter.
In a letter addressed to the Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission, Mr Jinapor, asked the Commission to submit to his office, within one week, all leases granted by the Forestry Commission over the 1,185 acres of land, and any amendment or variations to those leases, as well as any sublease or assignment granted over any part of the land.
Interestingly, the current CEO of the Forestry Commission, John McDonald Allotey and his Human Resources Manager, Anne Brown, witnessed the controversial Will of their late boss, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, alias “Sir John”, meaning they are aware that he had yanked a huge plot to himself.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Odododiodioo, Edwin Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, has claimed that the CEO signed the documents releasing the Achimota Forest lands and the Ramsar site at Sakumona near Tema releasing the lands to “Sir John”, who dead on 1 July 2020 from COVID-19.
The request follows an earlier Statement by Samuel A Jinapor, MP to act on any improper acquisition of public lands, including the Achimota Forest Lands, regardless of how they were acquired, whether now or in the past.
In a separate letter addressed to the Executive Secretary of the Lands Commission, the Minister has requested for information on all transactions affecting the land acquired in 1927, including de-gazetting, leases, subleases, assignments, and other transfer or disposition of any part of the lands in question, whether made by the Forestry Commission or any other person.
In another letter addressed to the Nii Owoo Royal Family, the Minister has asked the Family to submit to his office all subleases and assignments granted by the Family to any person.
The Minister has also asked the Lands and Forestry Commissions, as well as the Nii Owoo Royal Family, to provide the names and addresses of all beneficiary owners of any part of the land acquired in 1927. This will enable the Minister take the appropriate actions on Achimota Forest
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources will continue to deal with this matter, and all other matters affecting the lands and natural resources of our country, transparently, with the highest standards of integrity and with utmost good faith.
“Sir John”, had hidden details of his share of the Achimota Lands in the names of three companies; Jakaypro Limited, Fasoh Limited and DML Limited.
The tiny detail provided by the deceased, suggested that other owners of Jakaypro Limited, Fasoh Limited and DML Limited, might have also benefited from the Achimota forest reserve.
Although, the government claimed to have given out the prime forest land to the Owoo family of Osu-Accra, reports are that it the land has rather been shared among government appointees, family members of President Nana Akufo-Addo, his friends and cronies including businessmen and ruling party financiers.
Aside from the politicians, which include some members of the opposition NDC, The Herald, has also picked up reports about one Nana Yaw Boahene, said to be an Accra-based businessman and owner of IBISTEK, who has been linked to 20 acres of the Achimota Forest Land.
He is also mentioned as the owners of Aikan Capital Limited, a financier of the governing NPP, and said to be a front for the Owoo family.
There are claims that he had advanced some huge sums of money to the family and had been waiting to take over the land when released to the Owoo Family.
Nana Yaw Boahene, is said to be using one Yaw Oheneba Otchere as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Aikan Capital Limited for the US$1.2 billion ecotourism project in the Achimota Forest in partnership with the Forestry Commission. The project started during the tenure of Samuel Afari Dartey.
Additional information available to The Herald is that Nana Yaw Boahene, is also the owner of the US$16 million Weddi Africa Tomato Processing Factory and Agro Farms at Domfete near Berekum in the Bono region.
President Akufo-Addo inaugurated that facility in August last year as part of government’s One-District One-Factory initiative with funding from Eximbank Ghana.
Interestingly, the current CEO of the Forestry Commission, John McDonald Allotey and his Human Resources Manager, Anne Brown, witnessed the Will of their late boss, Sir John, meaning they are aware that he had yanked a huge plot to himself.
The Will partly read: “I give my land situated at the Achimota Forest in the name of Jakaypro Limited and measuring 5.541 acres to the following persons forever.
Yaw Amoateng Afriyie – One (1) acre, Eva Akua Afriyie – One (1) acre, Ivy Akua Afriyie – One (1) acre, Elizabeth Asare Boateng (aka Mother) One (1) acre, Michael Owusu – 1.541 acres.
It continued: “I give my land also situated at the Achimota Forest in the name of Fasoh Limited and measuring 0.987acres to my nephews Michael Owusu, Yaw Boadu, and Kwabena Amoateng forever”, adding “I jointly own a piece of land at Achimota Forest with Charles Owusu. Upon my demise, my portion of the said land should be given to Ruth Korkor Odonkor.”
“I give my portion of land that I jointly own at the Achimota Forest in the name of DML Limited to Elizabeth Asare Boateng who at the of making this will is domiciled in the USA forever.
The revelations have further heightened public outrage about how Ghanaian politicians are abusing their offices to take state resources including the Achimota forest lands.
