A private developer last year built a wall across an asphalt road in the Ridge area in Kumasi, cutting affecting movement to the Regional Coordinating Council. Photo Credit: citinewsroom.com
The Fourth Estate has tried to reach the Ashanti Regional Minister for a comment, but he did not answer our phone calls. His press aide, however, said he could not comment on the subject since the regional coordinating council was the right body to communicate on the matter. He directed that we should speak with the minister himself.
When The Fourth Estate contacted the regional Minister through a Kumasi-based journalist, he said he would not comment on the matter. He said whoever wanted information on the land given to the Asantehene should go to the Lands Commission.
We also reached out to the Asantehene’s secretary on whether the government had officially communicated the content of the letter to the Asantehene. He has promised to revert with a response later.
The Fourth Estate, however, got a confirmation from the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, who said the government had issued an executive instrument giving some state lands in Kumasi to the Asantehene.
This news of giving state land in Kumasi to the Asantehene comes in the wake of the controversial declassification of the Achimota forest by the government.
Executive Instrument 144, which declassified the Achimota forest, came into effect on May 1, 2022, announcing the cessation of a large portion of the Achimota Forest as a reserve.
“An Executive Instrument (E.I.) 144 gazetted on behalf of President Akufo-Addo by the Lands Minister Samuel Abdulai Jinapor indicates that effective May 1, 2022, the land on which the forest is located shall cease to be a forest reserve.
“The President’s action was in accordance with Section 19 of the Forest Act, 1927 (CAP. 157), which gives him the authority to declare that particular land is no longer required as a forest reserve,” the executive instrument said.
The action on Achimota was greeted with public outrage, with many describing it as a ploy to sell state lands to politicians and the elite.
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, dismissed the accusations. The government said the Achimota Forest lands were only being given back to the Owoo family, who are the original owners of the land.
That justification, however, suffered a credibility crisis when The Fourth Estate broke the story of how the late chief executive officer of the Forestry Commission, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, alias Sir John, willed large parcels of Achimota lands to his relatives.
The Lands and Natural Resources Ministry said it would investigate the state lands contained in the will. A statement from the ministry said the state would take over the Achimota Forest lands and the Sakumono Ramsar site land also contained in the will.
Climate Change & Energy
Government gives over 400 acres of military, other state land to Asantehene
Source: The Fourth Estate - May 30, 2022
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II is the occupant of the Golden Stool
Be the first to comment!
Leave Your Comment