The Senior Vice President of IMANI-Africa, Kofi Bentil has revealed that the Achimota forest is at the verge of been stolen.
The private legal practitioner and a leading member of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) claim is coming at the time that Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has made series of statements that there is a serious state capture and that most of the state lands are being sold to cronies.
Ablakwa says the Nana Addo/Bawumia led government are buying state-lands with the Lands minister at the center of it. Lands Minister Samuel Abu Jinapor, however, refuted the allegations forcing Ablakwa to state in a counter press conference in Parliament on Thursday August 15, that the government is being complicit in the act with proven evidence of his claims on his facebook page.
He said “We have come to the firm conclusion that the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government is deliberately refusing to disclose the status of all public lands in our country because they are complicit. They know that when the full facts emerge, they will be exposed for the massive land grabs and unquestionable state capture they have engaged in”.
Kofi Bentil asserted that the Achimota forest over years had to be fought for to preserve its existence. He added that if others don’t join to protect it, it will be gone.
He emphasized “Achimota forest is at risk of being stolen. I’ve fought to preserve it. It’s time to see others join to protect it. If we don’t it will be gone soon!”
He concluded on his Facebook post by stating that the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Dr. Alhaji Bawumia is in support of protecting the forest.
“ NB: Bawumia is in favor of saving it not selling it!!! Let the others also declare their support for the forest remaining a forest” portion of his post read.
Background:
About five days ago, The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has confirmed that an agreement has been reached to release 262 acres of the Achimota Forest to its allodial owners, the Owoo family.
This decision according to him follows the controversy triggered by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s issuance of Executive Instrument 144, which initially aimed to reclassify 362 acres of the forest land for return to the Owoo family.
After negotiations, the acreage to be released was reduced to 262 acres to address concerns about the ecological integrity of the forest.
At a press briefing on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, Mr. Jinapor explained that the decision to return the land to the Owoo family was made by President Mahama’s government in 2013, with cabinet approval granted on September 5, 2013.