The Osu Stool has raised strong objections to the recent decision to return 262 acres of the Achimota Forest to the Owoo family, claiming that the family is being used as a front for questionable deals aimed at “looting and sharing” land.
This allegation follows the confirmation by Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, that a plan is in motion to transfer a portion of the Achimota Forest to the Owoo family. According to the minister, the decision stems from a 2013 approval by the Mahama administration, which had been bound by previous legal commitments regarding the land.
Minister Jinapor explained, “As far back as September 5th, 2013, President Mahama’s government granted Cabinet approval for the return of this land to the Owoo family, and at the time I became Minister, a total of 362 acres had been concluded.”
He further added that negotiations have since reduced the acreage from 362 to 262 acres to preserve the forest’s ecological integrity.
However, the Osu Stool contends that this land rightfully belongs to them. Nii Okwei Nortey, the Osu Stool Secretary, expressed disbelief at the government’s actions and accused them of secretly striking deals with the Owoo family.
“Osu stool doesn’t have anything with Owoo. Owoo has never bought a land from Osu. They have never fought with Osu Stool and won,” Nortey said in an interview with Citi FM.
He emphasized that Achimota Forest land has always belonged to the Osu Stool, and called on the government to act as an impartial arbiter rather than taking sides.
Mr Nortey expressed frustration, stating, “Why the rush? Why can’t they call us to the table because the government is supposed to play the referee… They have gone behind closed doors on the blind side to do another fictitious deal to bring Owoo to get the land for them to share.”
The controversy surrounding the Achimota Forest restitution plan first surfaced in 2022, when Executive Instrument 144, issued by President Akufo-Addo, proposed returning 362 acres of the forest land to the Owoo family.
The move was met with significant public outcry. In response to these concerns, the government reduced the acreage by 100 acres.
Mr Jinapor assured the public that the government had taken steps to ensure that no individual could take possession of the land without stringent ecological safeguards.
“We’ve structured the agreement in such a way that even for an individual to take possession of the land given the ecological sensitivity of the forest reserve, we’ve put in place stringent measures,” he said, emphasizing that no land has been handed over yet.
As the debate continues, the Osu Stool maintains that the land is rightfully theirs and has demanded a fair hearing from the government.