Speculations are rife that, the government is planning to sell the only patch of green we have left in the capital city; the Achimota Forest.
Much as the government, through the ministry of Land and Natural Resources, has tried to debunk the claim, most Ghanaians are aghast not because of the intended sale, but the mere thought of it.
This government has proven since 2017 that, they are relentless when they set their mind to do something, it is the reason why the response from the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources that, the forest is not sold, cannot be trusted.
They are reports that government has through an Executive Instrument (E.I), said the very popular reserve is no longer a forest reserve.
Details of the E.I signed by the Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, states that the land is no longer required as a forest reserve.
It further added that the cessation is effective May 1, 2022.
“An Executive Instrument (E.I.) 144 gazetted on behalf of President Akufo-Addo by the Lands Minister Samuel Abdulai Jinapor indicates that effective May 1, 2022, the land on which the Forest is located shall cease to be a forest reserve.”
“The President’s action was in accordance with Section 19 of the Forest Act, 1927 (CAP. 157) which gives him the authority to declare that particular land is no longer required as a forest reserve,” a portion of the E.I said.
What this E.I does is to leave the forest at the mercy of any government which comes in the future and is bent on selling it to easily do so. The current government is racing against itself to sell everything to its people.
The minister in denying the report, says a portion of the land has only been returned to the Owoo family, this newspaper is persuaded to point out that this will be too bad for the country because the land will end up being own by the cronies of president Nana Akufo-Addo.
There is no gainsaying it that the environment is a factor in the assessment of the condition of the people. Healthy living is not just about eating good food. Obviously, in our opinion, that is a critical factor necessary but not sufficient for the overall wellbeing of the people. This is why this newspaper is against any move to cede part of the land to the family, as it is going to end in the hands of private developers.
