The Paramount Chief of the Ga Kingdom has added his voice to the many calling on the Government to rescind its decision to declassify parts of Achimota Forest for developmental purposes.
Boni Nii Tackie Adama Latse II’s call follows concerns that the development of the five parcels of land constituting 361.50 acres of the forest would affect its ecological integrity.
The government had indicated in their communication to the public that checks have been made to ensure that the move does not affect the forest reserve, adding that the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority would perform their role in the drawing of plans for approval by the sector minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor.
However, in their press statement released on Tuesday, May 24, 2022, the Ga Mantse and the Ga Dzase expressed disappointment over the leadership’s decision to re-zone the area.
“The Achimota Forest Reserves is the only major existing greenbelt left For Accra and its environs, and such a decision will affect the ecological integrity of the forest and its protection of the water bodies and its natural environment,” the statement signed by the Ga Dzasetse Nii Yaote Oto Ga II maintained.
“We, therefore, call on His Excellency President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and His Hon. Minister for Lands and Natural Resources to rescind the decision by withdrawing E.I. 144 to protect the ecological integrity of the capital’s forest.”