The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has set up a committee to look into the Achimota Forest lands matter.
The issue has become a subject of public debate following concerns raised last week about portions of the only forest reserve in the Greater Accra Region having been sold out to private citizens.
The sector minister, in a quickly-organised press conference on Tuesday, May 17, dismissed the concerns and clarified that only a portion of the forest reserve is going back to its original owners, the Owoo family.
Though concerns were raised about the increase in the acreage going to the Owoos, Mr Abu Jinapor, who is also Member of Parliament for Damongo Constituency in the Savannah Region, said President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo only addressed a petition from the family.
However, the will of the late former Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, popularly known as Sir John, popped up to indicate that some portions of the forest reserve had already been taken.
The deceased politician had willed portions of the Achimota Forest Reserve to his relatives, a situation that further stirred public outcry.
The Lands Minister, however, intervened and promised to look into the document making rounds on social media as the will of Sir John.
On Wednesday, May 25, the Minister will inaugurate a committee to probe the whole matter.
The issue cranked up after President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo signed an Executive Instrument (EI) which came into force on Sunday, May 1 to declassify portions of the forest reserve.
Source: 3news.com|Ghana