By Roselyn Ganyaglo
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources is to initiate processes for an independent audit into the acreage of lands in the Achimota Forest Reserve, de-gazetted and handed over to the Owoo family. This follows disparities in the acreage agreed by previous administrations and the final acreage of 361.50 acres released to the family.
A ten page document released by the Ministry, Tuesday, May 24, 2022 indicated that as of 2008 the agreed land that was to be released to the family was 90 acres, but was periodically reviewed to 329.013 in 2020 upon several Petitions by the family.
However, the Forestry Commission after conducting field visits, submitted schedules for the areas to be released as Forest Reserve and increased the acreage to 355.466, citing discrepancies in the estimation of the total area of the Achimota Forest Reserve. The size of the land was again increased to 361.50 after another field visit by officials from both the Forestry Commission and the Lands Commission.
The statement by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources in part cites several petitions written by the Owoofamily, starting in 2006, under former President Kufour, 2009 under former President Atta Mills after the previous government failed to release the land due to a change in government.
The Mills Administration was also unable to release the lands although it agreed to the demands of the Owoo family as well as the size of land which it moved from 40 acres to 118.023.
The family wrote another petition under former president Mahama in 2013. It said desirous of converting the forest into an Eco park the then Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Alhaji Inusah Fuseini constituted a committee Chaired by the Deputy Minister Barbara SerwaaAsamoah to execute the project and consider a 2011 Special Committee report on the petition by the Owoo family. It said the Committee agreed to the recommendations and said the request of the Owoo family should be expedited for the smooth take off of the eco project. It said on 5th September 2013 former President Mahama granted approval for the development of the Eco Park and release of the land to the Owoo family in accordance with the Committee’s recommendation. It said despite the fact that the AfariDartey committee recommended the release of an acreage of 118.023, the forestry commission executed three leases in favour of the Owoo family totaling 148.411 acres. In 2014 the Forestry Commission and the Owoo family executed a deed of variation to the 2013 leases as a result of what it says is an omission of the root of title and the actual size of the demised land. The family was granted another 50.09 acres, bringing the family’s total acreage to 198.501. It said in 2018 the forestry commission submitted a draft Executive Instrument to then Minister of Lands and Natural Resources John Peter Amewu for de-gazetting portions of the land leases to the Owoo family. It was at this point that the government wrote to the Owoo family indicating that portions of the land leased to them were ecologically sensitive. Government, therefore, indicated to the family it was withdrawing portions for those portions of the land. They offered to grant the family portions of the forest behind the GIMPA wall around the Railway station.
Negotiations began and the Owoo family argued that the portions being given are less valuable and that they had already granted portions of the old leases to private developers.
The negotiations culminated in another Deed of variation executed in 2020 varying the schedules to the 2013 leases. By this deed the total area released to the family was now 329.012 acres. Mr. Jinapor in the statement said as a new Minister, he sought advice on the matter from relevant state agencies and was advised to de-gazette the lands for the Owoo family.
It said in a letter dated 21st February 2022 the Ministry requested the forestry commission to submit schedules for the areas to be released. The Commission in their response submitted schedules of 355.466 instead of 329.012. The Forestry Commission explained that through their analysis and field visits to the forest revealed that there have been discrepancies in the estimation of the total area of the Achimota Forest reserve, hence the newly estimated total land area. The Commission also said the area of the Achimota reserve was 1185 and not 1223.17 as had earlier estimated. The statement said upon the request of the Attorney General the lands commission and the Forestry Commission were asked to take coordinates of the area. The validated schedule and site plan by both institutions saw another increase of the land to 361.50 acres.
It said ”the government will act on any improper acquisition of public lands regardless of how it was procured, whether now or in the past, and the Achimota Forest lands will not be an exception”.
