Claims of Abu Jinapor misleading parliament are ‘falsehoods’ – Lands ministry

The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has denied allegations that the sector minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor, provided misleading information to Parliament concerning Ghana’s forest reserves.

In a statement issued on Friday, 13 September 2024, the ministry described these claims as "falsehoods and misinformation" and urged Ghanaians to disregard them.

The accusations, which have circulated in some media outlets, suggest that minister Abu Jinapor offered "half-truths" during a recent parliamentary session about activities within the country's forest reserves.

However, the ministry refuted these claims, asserting that the minister has consistently presented accurate and transparent information based on verified data and ongoing assessments of the nation's forest cover.

"The attention of the ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has been drawn to a publication by the Fourth Estate with the above headline in respect of an answer given by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, to a question posed to him in Parliament.

“The said publication contains a lot of falsehoods and misinformation," the ministry stated.

Reaffirming its commitment to the protection of Ghana's natural resources, the ministry emphasised that it is actively addressing challenges such as deforestation and illegal mining within forest reserves.

The ministry reassured the public that it remains focused on its mandate to preserve the country’s forests through sustainable management practices.

"Given the respect and the high regard the Hon. minister, who is also a Member of Parliament, has for the august House of Parliament, the ministry finds the allegations that the Hon. minister was not being truthful to Parliament as very serious and rather unfortunate," the statement added.

The ministry called on Ghanaians to trust the processes in place and to dismiss any attempts to undermine the work of the ministry and its leadership.

It also reiterated its dedication to safeguarding the nation's natural resources and upholding transparency in its operations.