Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has declared the Achimota Forest lands that have become a subject matter of the alleged will of Sir John shall remain public lands.
He indicated whether these lands fall within the de-gazetted lands or not pursuant to the E.I. 144, they will continue to remain part of the Achimota Forest.
The Minister made the declaration in a statement to the media with a pledge that the government will act on any improper acquisition of any public lands regardless of how it was procured.
“Whether now or in the past, the Achimota Forest lands will not be an exception,” he stated.
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, he said, is committed to inquiring into the allegations relating to the acquisition of parcels of lands at the Achimota Forest and the Sakumono Ramsar Site by the late former Chief Executive Officer (C.E.O) of the Forestry Commission, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie (Sir John).
“Preliminary inquiries reveal that the alleged Will in question is a subject matter of litigation/contestation in the courts.”
“Further checks at the Lands and the Forestry Commissions, the repositories of the records of the lands in question, show no record of ownership of Lands at, the Achimota Forest or the Sakumono Ramsar Site, by the late Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie.”
“That said, given the totality of the circumstances of the said allegations, I, as Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, have directed the Lands and Forestry Commissions to deem any ownership of lands, both, in the Achimota Forest and the Sakumono Ramsar Site by the late Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie as void and are to take the appropriate actions accordingly.”
Mr Abu Jinapor stressed that the bequeathing of the forest lands if established, will not pass any interest/title to the named beneficiaries in the alleged Will.
These lands, he said, shall remain Public Lands, whether or not it falls within the de-gazetted lands pursuant to E. I 144.
Source: Mypublisher24.com
