The Greater Accra Regional Security Council (REGSEC) has undertaken a major demolition exercise in the Dodowa forest, targeting unauthorized structures that have encroached on the area.
The move comes after the forest was declared a security zone in response to mounting concerns from the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs about the rapid encroachment by private developers.
The Dodowa forest, alongside the Katamanso Pinkwai forest, holds significant historical value to the Ga-Dangbe people, making the preservation of these lands a priority for local authorities.
Daniel Titus Glover, the Regional Minister and Chairman of REGSEC, spoke to journalists during the demolition exercise, emphasizing the importance of reclaiming the forest. “We declared the Dodowa forest and Katamanso Pinkwai forests as a security zone.
These are two landmark forests in Ga-Dangbe history. So we are here to regain our forest back with the support of the Forestry Commission,” he said.
Glover also highlighted that no legitimate documents had been presented by developers to justify their claims to the land.
“I have got documents from the Regional House of Chiefs that state that this land is for the Shai people…As we speak, nobody has brought us any document apart from what the registrar brought to us from the Regional House of Chiefs,” he added.
Following the demolition, REGSEC, in collaboration with the Forestry Commission, initiated a tree-planting exercise to restore the affected areas of the forest.
The exercise saw participation from the local District Chief Executive (DCE) and students from the area.
The youth of Dodowa expressed their excitement about the government’s efforts to reclaim the forest, viewing it as a positive step towards preserving their heritage and environment.
