Parliament challenges Ministry over State lands data amid security concerns for Achimota Forest Reserve

The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has acknowledged that compiling records on state lands from 1993 to the present is “an extraordinary undertaking” and is currently a work in progress. However, he is hopeful that these records will be made available sooner rather than later.

The Chairman of Parliament’s Assurance Committee, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has been challenging the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources over its failure to provide Parliament with a list of state lands sold since 1993.

In February 2022, the Minority requested a list of state lands sold since 2017, but Minister Samuel Abu Jinapor promised to provide a list dating back to 1993.

Responding to inquiries from Mr. Ablakwa, the Minister explained that the Lands Commission is still in the process of compiling the list, describing it as a very difficult task.

“Compiling the list from the 16 regional Lands Commissions across the country from 1993 to now is quite an extraordinary undertaking, and therefore they have not been able to put it all together as yet. So I am unable to provide it now, but it is a work in progress, and sooner rather than later, I hope we will be able to put it all together and make it available,” said the Minister.

Mr. Okudzeto Ablakwa emphasized that the absence of these records poses significant risks and that having this data is crucial for everyone’s benefit.

“Honourable Minister, if this data is put together and provided, it would help all of us. The instances of government lands being registered as private lands and the fraud exposed by the sole inquirer at the Lands Commission— the only way to prevent this is to have the data. That is why it is clear in my mind that there are elements at the Lands Commission who don’t want the Ghanaian people to have this data,” said Mr. Ablakwa.

Ranking Member Farouk Aliu Mahama criticized his committee chairman for seeking to implicate the minister. According to the Yendi MP, the minister has shown himself to be a responsible public official who has made commitments to publish this data, unlike other ministers who have simply refused to do so.

“He said successive governments have come and gone, and every year there is a gap. How to look at the gaps and solve them is necessary and has been bashed,” Mahama stated.

Other issues that arose during the committee sitting included security concerns and the preservation of the Achimota Forest Reserve.

The Minister noted that efforts are underway to enhance security for the reserve by resourcing the Achimota Police Station and exploring private sector involvement in developing the reserve.

“The Achimota Forest Reserve is not particularly forested, so there are many degraded areas. We are making efforts to ensure that the entire area is well-forested. Additionally, we plan to modernize it and make it partly a recreational enclave, where you have the forest and certain amenities. It is a work in progress. We will continue to reforest the area and eventually seek private capital to modernize the Achimota Forest,” he said.

By Eugene Davis