The Members of the Minority in Parliament are demanding a probe into the declassification of parts of the Achimota Forest Land.
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources recently announced that government is ceding control of 361 acres of the land which is part of the forest to the Owoo family.
The Minority in Parliament is unhappy with the development and is demanding a probe into the declassification.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament to express their displeasure on Tuesday, May 24, 2022, Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu questioned the decision by the government to declassify the forest reserve through E.I 144.
According to the lawmaker, the President did not have the legal backing to undertake such an exercise.
He said the Minority wants a probe into the declassification to determine who bought what and how much was bought.
“Mr. Speaker, there is the news of declassification of Achimota forest and public officers and politicians grabbing lands in the name of the republic. Without any hesitation this must be treated as an urgent matter the President should open public inquiry into the declassification of the Achimota and let the public know who bought what and how much,” Haruna Iddrisu said.
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“We need to appreciate and based on the reliance on the Executive Instrument 144 the Forest Act of 1927 must remind the President and his leadership that they should go and look at the land use and special planning of land ACT 926 retooling and reclassification the mandate was not given to the President,” Haruna Iddrisu said.
Commenting on the issue with host of Atinka FM’s AM Drive, Kaakyire Ofori Ayim , the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Ada and the 2nd Deputy Minority whip in Parliament Comfort Doye Cudjoe said the minority will not sit unconcerned and allow the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to destroy Ghana’s forest reserve.
Comfort Doye Cudjoe reiterated that the NPP has managed to sell other forest reserves meant to give oxygen.
“The bottom-line is that we want a full probe into the declassification of parts of the Achimota Forest Land to the Owoo Family plus others. We will sit and allow the NPP to destroy our lands like they have destroyed our waters with Galamsey”, she added.
Ghana | Atinkaonline.com | Vivian Adu
