The Forestry Commission (FC) under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources is failing to protect the prohibited Sakumono Ramsar Site in the Greater Accra Region, and thus paving the way for some top state officials to grab the state lands at the site with impunity.
So terrible is the situation that some government officials have as much as 38 acres of the land belonging to the state.
In the past, the FC, under the leadership of the late Mr. Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, served notice to demolish all structures in areas within the site that had been marked ‘no-go’.
The commission at the time promised that it would not compromise on its areas demarcated for an eco-tourism project.
The laudable position of the commission has turned out to be a hoax, as the areas demarcated for the eco-tourism project have been targeted by officials of the current government, who are buying the prohibited lands cheap from some traditional rulers of Nungua, who are claiming ownership of the government land.
What is nauseating is the fact that some of the government officials, after grabbing the lands at low prices, resell them to the public at high prices.
The use of state security apparatus to protect the lands that have been bought by the top state officials is currently prevailing at the Sakumono Ramsar Site.
Those who buy the lands from the state officials are also aided by the security operatives to develop them with speed, as they are of the thinking that the FC could not demolish buildings that have been developed to certain levels.
About Sakumono Ramsar Site
The Sakumono Ramsar Site is the only wetland wholly owned by the Government of Ghana, and it is meant to protect Sakumono and Tema and their environs against floods and pollution, for breeding fish for the Sakumono Lagoon and for recreational activities.
It is also for relaxation and feeding ground for over 70 water-brain species.
In addition, it serves as a breeding ground for about three marine species.
The FC maintains that the 13.6 kilometre square Sakumono Ramsar Site is part of the land acquired under the Tema Development Corporation (TDC) for which compensation was fully paid to the Nungua Stool.
It has a catchment area of 222km2 from which water drains into the 1.6km2 Sakumono Lagoon.
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Source: The Inquisitor