The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Jinapor has directed the Lands and Forestry Commissions to deem ownership of both the Achimota Forest and Sakumono Ramsar Site, revoking any purported ownership or transfer of title by the late Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, popularly known as Sir John.
He stated that their checks at both the Lands and Forestry Commissions do not prove any ownership of any portion of the Achimota Forest or Sakumono Ramsar Site by the late Sir John.
“Given the totality of the circumstances of the said allegations, I, as Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, have directed the Lands and Forestry Commissions to deem any ownership of lands, both in the Achimota Forest and the Sakumono Ramsar Site, by the late Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie as void and to take the appropriate actions accordingly,” the statement said.
He reiterated that the allegedly willed lands are and will forever remain public lands.
Below is the full statement from the Ministry, signed by the Minister:
RE: ACHIMOTA FOREST / KWADWO OWUSU AFRIYIE’S ALLEGED LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources refers to its Press Statement dated 22nd May, 2022 in which the Ministry committed to inquire into the allegations relating to the acquisition of parcels of lands at the Achimota Forest and the Sakumono Ramsar Site by the late former Chief Executive Officer (C.E.O) of the Forestry Commission, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie (Sir John).
Preliminary inquiries reveal that the alleged Will in question is a subject matter of litigation/contestation in the courts.
Further checks at the Lands and the Forestry Commissions, the repositories of the records of thelands in question, show no record of ownership of Lands at, the Achimota Forest or the Sakumono Ramsar Site, by the late Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie.
That said, given the totality of the circumstances of the said allegations, I, as Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, have directed the Lands and Forestry Commissions to deem any ownership of lands, both, in the Achimota Forest and the Sakumono Ramsar Site by the late Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie as void and are to take the appropriate actions accordingly.
For the avoidance of doubt, the bequeathing of the aforesaid lands, if established, will not pass any interest/title to the named beneficiaries in the alleged Will. These lands, the subject matter of the alleged Will, shall remain Public Lands, whether or not it falls within the de-gazetted lands pursuant to E.I 144.
Government will act on any improper acquisition of any Public Lands, regardless of how it was procured, whether now or in the past, and the Achimota Forest Lands will not be an exception.
SIGNED
HON. SAMUEL A. JINAPOR, MP
MINISTER
