Cabinet has ordered the immediate revocation of Executive Instrument (E.I.) 144, effectively restoring portions of the Achimota Forest Reserve that were declassified in 2022. The annulment of E.I. 144, as amended by E.I. 234, reinstates approximately 361.5 acres (about 146 hectares) of land to its original protected status within the reserve.
E.I. 144, which came into force on May 1, 2022, had excised the designated parcels from the forest reserve, permitting alternative uses beyond the restrictions of protected forest lands. The move sparked widespread public debate, with environmental advocates and stakeholders voicing concern over the potential loss of one of Accra’s vital green spaces.
Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, explained that the government’s decision was guided by the imperative to safeguard the Achimota Forest as an ecological buffer for Accra and its surrounding communities. Speaking at the government’s Accountability Series, he emphasised that restoring the forest’s reserve status underscores the administration’s commitment to preserving the area’s environmental significance.
“Cabinet’s revocation of E.I. 144 as amended by E.I. 234 would restore the affected land to its previous legal status as part of the Achimota Forest Reserve,” the minister said. The Achimota Forest Reserve has long served as an important ecological asset, providing environmental benefits including climate regulation, biodiversity conservation and protection of green space within the Greater Accra area.
The government’s action effectively reverses the 2022 decision that altered the legal status of portions of the reserve and returns the affected lands to the protections provided under the original forest classification.
Source: Akosua Otchere
