The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, announced that the government will return 262 acres of the Achimota Forest to the Owoo family.
During a press briefing on August 14, 2024, Mr. Jinapor revealed that President Mahama’s government decided to return the land to its original owners with cabinet approval granted on September 5, 2013.
Mr Jinapor clarified,
“On September 5, 2013, President Mahama’s government approved the return of this land to the Owoo family.
By the time I became Minister, 362 acres had already been leased out, and decisions regarding the land’s return were in place.
This process began under President Kufuor and continued through President Akufo-Addo’s administration up to 2021 when I took office.”
Despite this, the current administration is proceeding with the previous government’s plan, which had initially allocated 362 acres.
“My team negotiated a 100-acre reduction with stakeholders due to environmental concerns. The final agreement returns 262 acres with strict measures to prevent unauthorised possession.” He said
This decision follows the controversy surrounding President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s Executive Instrument 144, which initially aimed to reclassify 362 acres of the forest for the Owoo family.
