The Achimota Forest in Accra has not ‘been sold and will not be sold’, Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor has said.
It comes after reports suggesting the possible reclassification of the forest for commercial development by government hit social media.
The Instrument gazetted on behalf of President Akufo-Addo by the Lands Minister Samuel Abdulai Jinapor stipulated that effective May 1, 2022, the land on which the Forest is located shall cease to be a forest reserve, pursuant to Section 19 of the Forest Act, 1927 (CAP. 157).
“The District Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority with jurisdiction over the land specified in the schedule, shall, within three months after the coming into force of this instrument, prepare for the approval of the Minister [of Lands], a master plan for the development of the land specified in the schedule,” the document noted.
The development has sparked outrage on social media with some Ghanaians accusing government of recklessness.
Renowned journalist Manasseh wrote on twitter “Achimota Forest too? Do some people want to own that too? Is that why they killed Samuel Afari Dartey’s dream for the forest?”.
“I have just read with sadness Executive Instrument 144, degazetting portions of the Achimota Forest, the only remaining green belt in Ghana’s capital city. By the EI, approximately a quarter of the forest has been chipped away, and will soon be used for other purposes other than the forest services it was previously providing. Terrible day for Ghana,” a member of civil society group Imani Ghana Selorm Branttie wrote on twitter.