Government will ensure Achimota Forest does not become a haven for criminals – Jinapor

The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources and MP for Damongo, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has stated that the government will continue to work hard to ensure that the Achimota Forest does not become a haven for criminal activities.

The minister made this pronouncement when he appeared before the Assurance Committee of Parliament to answer questions on assurances, promises, and commitments made on the floor of Parliament and how far his outfit has worked to achieve them.

The minister explained that the Forestry Commission has put measures in place to protect the Achimota Forest. He indicated that the Forestry Commission has employed more Forest Guards to continuously patrol the forest to ward off criminals.

It will be recalled that the MP for Okaikwei North, Theresa Lady Awuni, on August 2, 2021, posed a question to the minister on what measures the ministry was putting in place to fence the Achimota Forest to reduce attacks by criminals on nearby residences and motorists.

Abu Jinapor added that some logistical support and assistance from the Forestry Commission to the Achimota Police Station have been provided to improve the security situation around the Achimota Forest.

Furthermore, the minister told the Committee that the policy of the ministry is anchored on aggressive afforestation, protection, and reforestation, adding that the Green Ghana Day has helped plant a lot more trees in the Forest. "Ghana’s rate of deforestation has declined," he stated.

The government has planted a considerable number of trees in the Forest and is determined to protect the Forest enclave against destruction.

However, the Chairman of the Assurance Committee (AC), Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, opined that even though some logistical support has been given to the Achimota Police Station to fight crime, his checks revealed that the Minister’s claim does not reflect what is on the ground, as he visited the Achimota Police Station to apprise himself of the issues.

Ablakwa said, "The Achimota Police Station still has one pickup, five motorbikes, three from the Ghana Police Service, and two provided by the Forestry Commission. With this, you can imagine how our dedicated men and women in uniform are going to patrol the forest enclave."