Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, has deplored what he said is a clear policy contradiction, the position of the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources on the Achimota Forest saga and the Green Ghana Day project.
He questioned how the Minister and indeed the government could dismember the Achimota Forest and give away the land and then turn around to seek support from Parliament to plant more trees.
These very contradictory positions, he said, need to be reconciled to send a clear message to the Ghanaian people of the importance of maintaining Ghana’s forest cover.
He was contributing to a statement that stood in the name of Samuel Abu Jinapor, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources on the Green Ghana Day scheduled for 10th June, 2022.
Mr. Dafeamekpor noted that following the 2021 Green Ghana Day exercise the Lands Minister briefed Parliament on the status of the tree seedlings that were planted and the efforts being made to protect them so they can grow into the forest cover as intended.
He said, “Mr. Speaker, let me say that given the position of the Minister in respect of the Achimota Forest matters, I see clear contradiction.”
“How does a Minister dismember a whole forest like Achimota and then come to Parliament to ask us to help him to plant more.”
“I hope that you will want to reconcile these two contradictory positions,” he added.
Speaking about Friday’s tree planting exercise, the South Dayi MP pointed out that the gradual degradation of the coastal line that has resulted in tidal waves pounding many communities could be reduced by planting coconut seedlings to protect the shoreline.
In his statement, the Lands Minister indicated the government has set out an ambitious target of planting 20 million seedlings on Friday.
10 million of the seedlings, he said, will be planted in reserved lands while the remaining will be planted outside forest reserves, particularly around farms, degraded watershed areas, boundaries, office compounds, and sites within communities, including, parks, roadsides, homes, churches, mosques and schools.
He disclosed that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will kick-start the nationwide tree planting exercise at the Efua Sutherland Park where he will plant the first tree.
Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, he said, will plant in Tamale; the Speaker of Parliament will so in the precinct of Parliament while the Chief Justice will plant in the precinct of the Supreme Court.
“President John Agyekum Kufour will be planting in Gomoa Nsuaem, and former President John Dramani Mahama will be planting in Accra. The Asantehene will plant in Kumasi, and the Ya-Na will plant in Yendi. His Eminence the National Chief Imam, and other eminent clergies, will also be planting across the country.”
“More importantly, you the Ghanaian people will plant in your various communities to make our country greener,” he said.