Alhaji Inusah Fuseini, a former Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, has called on the government to explain why it decided to increase the land parcel allotted to the Owoo family in the Achimota Forest.
According to Inusah Fuseini, the government has transferred 361 acres of land to the Owoo family.
Revealing this in an interview with Citinews, Mr Fuseini further explained that the the NDC government had turned over 118 acres to the custodial owners on compassionate grounds in 2013, when he was Minister for Lands and Natural Resources.
He argues that the NDC government then wanted to establish an eco-tourism park to prevent further encroachment.
Mr Fuseini noted that the current government, which was in opposition at the time, had questioned the decision and demanded an explanation.
Thus the former minister has also called on the NPP government to reveal to Ghanaians the reason for re-allocation of 361 acres of Achimota land to the Owoo’s.
“We were also criticized for giving 118 acres to the family and we had a duty to explain why we did… I cannot judge the government, but I only demand that we know the reason why they did that. Government is in charge of policy so they should come out and explain.â€
He also noted that the government’s decision gives the Owoo family the free hand to engage in any development on the land as against what the NDC proposed, which was to ensure the family received approval from the Forestry Commission on any initiative they planned to take.
Inusah Fuseini wants the government to address this matter as well.
“We principally wanted the land to still be under the control of the Forestry Commission so that the ecological integrity of the forest will be protected, but you [government] are of a different view that it should be declassified as a forest and removed from the forest reserve and so they need to explain,†he said.
Background
Lands Minister, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, in an Executive Instrument (E.I) 144 on behalf of the President stipulated that effective May 1, 2022, the land on which the Forest is located shall cease to be a forest reserve.
He noted that portions of the land will be returned to the Owoo family and government will redevelop the remaining into the likes of “High Park of London and Central Park of New York, where Ghanaians can go and enjoy the beauty of nature.â€
Following the news, many including the Minority in Parliament and the Osu Traditional Council have disapproved of the move. The Osu Traditional Council says they are the custodial owners of the land and not the Owoo family.
With the government trying to resolve the matter, it emerged on Monday that the immediate former Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission, the late Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, probably owned some Achimota Forest land.
This was discovered in purported Will of Sir John, the late CEO, shared by the Fourth Estate.
The news sparked a conversation on social media where Ghanaians asked the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to expedite investigations into the matter.
Meanwhile, the Lands Commission has rejected claims that Sir John owned portions of land at the Achimota Forest.
Source: The Independent Ghana