Akufo-Addo signs Executive Instrument to declassify portions of Achimota Forest Reserve
Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has signed an Executive Instrument (EI) to declassify the Achimota Forest Reserve in order to develop parts of it.
According to reports, President Akufo-Addo under Executive Instrument 144 has lifted the Forest Act, 1927 classification of the Achimota Forest as a Forest Reserve.
Per the information available, effective May 1, 2022, parts of the Achimota Forest Reserve is no longer a forest reserve. This is because, an Executive Instrument, E.I 144 titled ‘Forests (Cessation of Forest Reserve) Instrument, 2022’ raises suspicions that the Achimota Forest may be sold by the government.
“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 said.
Yayra Koku, an IT expert says, Achimota Forest Reserve is likely to be sold to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's family and friends pic.twitter.com/kDieoWyaE3
— Coverghana News (@coverghananews) May 17, 2022
The reports have generated public uproar especially on social media with different views on the subject matter. Many public personalities concluded that, the Achimota Forest Reserve has been sold by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s New Patriotic Party (NPP) government.
Achimota Forest Reserve no longer a forest reserve? – Joseph Kofi Frimpong Ackah-Blay https://t.co/cUafzoBfzh pic.twitter.com/x337Pgj7TB
— Coverghana News (@coverghananews) May 17, 2022
Confirming report, the Vice President of IMANI Centre for Policy and Education, a think tank of global repute dedicated to the promotion of the institutions of a free society across Africa cum a Private Legal Practitioner Mr. Kofi Bentil said, the Forest Reserve has been sold. In Facebook post, he said “Bye Bye Achimota Forest. Sold! What is this??!”
IMANI's Vice President Kofi Bentil says, government has sold the Achimota Forest Reserve pic.twitter.com/QFkOPSg8c5
— Coverghana News (@coverghananews) May 17, 2022
Bright Simons reacts to Achimota Forest Reserve bruhaha pic.twitter.com/My9oV7y2eV
— Coverghana News (@coverghananews) May 18, 2022
But, reacting to the allegations, the
Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and Member of Parliament for Damongo Constituency Hon. Samuel Abu Jinapor said, reports that, the Forest Reserve in Accra has been sold is palpable false and must be disregarded.
“Achimota forest has not been sold, and it will continue to remain a forest reserve – Samuel A. Jinapor” He said.
Samuel Abu Jinapor has said plans are afoot to upgrade the Achimota Forest, into a world-class asset, that widespread reports about the supposed sale of the Forest are false and baseless, as government has no such plans.
DOWNLOAD THE EXECUTIVE INSTRUMENT SUPPOSEDLY SIGNED BY PRESIDENT AKUFO-ADDO
SOURCE: Coverghana.com.gh
