A former Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Alhaji Inusah Fuseini, says the government must explain to Ghanaians the reason behind its decision to increase the acreage of Achimota forest land ceded to the Owoo family.
He said the erstwhile NDC government completed an agreement and duly handed over 118 acres of the land to the Owoo family, the custodial owners of the land, on compassionate grounds when it decided to build an eco-tourism park in the Achimota forest to prevent it from further encroachment.
Speaking on Eyewitness News, he said the government cannot be immediately criticized for its decision to cede about 361 acres of land to the family, however it must come clean on the rationale for the decision.
“The President directed that we give them part of the land and on compassionate grounds, so 118 acres of land was given to the Owoo family on compassionate grounds in acknowledging their tremendous sacrifice to the people of this county for the establishment of the Achimota school and the Achimota woodlots,” he said.
“We were also criticized for giving 118 acres to the family and we had a duty to explain why we did… I cannot judge the government, but I only demand that we know the reason why they did that. Government is in charge of policy so they should come out and explain,” he added..
Asked what the difference between their action and the current government’s decision was, he said while the NDC government wanted the land to be controlled by the Forestry Commission such that any activity or development by the family would have to be approved by the Commission, the current government’s decision gives the title holder the free hand to engage in any development.
“We principally wanted the land to still be under the control of the Forestry Commission so that the ecological integrity of the forest will be protected, but you [government] are of a different view that it should be declassified as a forest and removed from the forest reserve and so they need to explain,” he said.
