Tension mounts over clearance of Bosomoa Forest for Nursing Training School project
The Bosomoa Forest Reserve in the Bono East Region has become the focus of heated controversy following the clearance of about 20 acres of forest land to make way for a proposed Nursing and Midwifery Training School.
Situated between Jema and Ampoma in the Kintampo South District, the Bosomoa Reserve is one of only three surviving forest reserves in the entire Bono East Region. It falls under the management of the Kintampo Forest District of the Forest Services Division (FSD) of the Forestry Commission. Officials warn that the ongoing development poses a serious threat to the ecological integrity of the area and undermines national conservation efforts.
In response to the issue, the Bono East Regional Minister, Hon. Francis Owusu Antwi, convened an emergency stakeholder meeting in Techiman to assess the situation and determine a way forward. The meeting brought together key regional and district authorities, including:
ACP Boadu – Deputy Bono East Regional Police Commander
Hon. Wilfred Zuuri – Kintampo South District Chief Executive
Supt. Ernest Kodjo Doukonoo – Kintampo South District Police Commander
Mr. Robert Sakyi (Slima) – Kintampo South Constituency Chairman
Mr. Maxwell Agyekum Oteng – Manager, Kintampo Forest District
Mr. Owusu Ansah – Deputy Manager, Kintampo Forest District
Mr. David Kwaku Appiagyei – Bono East Regional Manager, FSD
During deliberations, security officials cautioned that any direct attempt by the Forestry Commission to halt or delay the project could provoke strong backlash from residents of Jema and Ampoma, who are eager for the proposed school’s construction. They noted that the Rapid Response Team of the Forestry Commission—deployed to protect the Bosomoa Forest from illegal logging and encroachment—faces growing tension on the ground.
Mr. Appiagyei, the Regional FSD Manager, reiterated that the construction activity within a gazetted forest reserve breaches Ghana’s environmental and forestry laws. He emphasised that such actions could set a dangerous precedent for future encroachment on protected lands.
He clarified that the proper procedure requires a formal application to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Presidency to officially de-gazette the portion of land before any development can take place.
“Until that process is completed,” he warned, “the Bosomoa Forest Reserve remains a protected area under the law, and no individual, group, or institution has the authority to encroach upon it for any purpose.”
Environmental advocates in the region have since called for restraint and renewed dialogue, urging both government authorities and community leaders to explore alternative land options that safeguard the region’s dwindling forest cover while addressing local development needs.
