The Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have called on the Executive and Parliament to reverse legislation permitting forest reserve developments.
The groups are demanding that Executive Instrument (E.I.) 144 and Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 246 (2), which declassified the Achimota Forest and other reserves across the country, be immediately halted to save the few and fast-depleting reserves left.
The coordinator for Eco-Conscious Citizens, Awula Serwaa, emphasized the importance of preserving forest reserves during an interview on Citi FM’s Citi Breakfast Show.
“The government acquired lands for horticultural purposes and not for commercial purposes and so we need to have an audit and those structures on Parks and Gardens lands must be removed immediately.
We are asking the Cabinet to rescind E.I 144 to reverse the declassification of the Achimota Forest and also, Parliament must reverse L.I. 246 (2) because they are not in the interest of Ghana or Ghanaians,” she stated.
She also highlighted the foresight of the colonial administration in establishing forest reserves for posterity and the detrimental health impacts, including increased lung diseases, resulting from current developments.
Daryl Bosu, the Deputy Director of A Rocha Ghana, also urged the Lands Minister to reverse the legislation and block any attempts to reclassify forest reserves.
“Citizens were thinking that with all the uproar, the government will rescind its decision but they are seriously on the forest reserve demarcating portions of the forest and that is very unfortunate,” Bosu said.
He stressed the critical timing of this issue amid discussions on air pollution, urging the government to listen to the people and halt the demarcation to protect the Achimota Forest, which he deemed vital for the nation.
