Achimota forest: We’ve suffered “grave historical injustice”, says Owoo family

The family at the centre of the Achimota forest reserve controversy, the Owoo family, has said that it is unhappy with the public discourse on the alleged declassification of the Achimota forest reserve.

The family said they have “suffered grave historical injustice” since the acquisition of all the land acquired in 1921 and 1927 for the Achimota School.

According to them, the family has had to, in the past, accept and/or acquiesce to terms to enable it to move on which it strongly believes has been unfair and unjust.

A statement by the principal elders of the family on Thursday (19 May), revealed that the family have not taken custody of any part of the land.

“The much talked about 19th August 2016 ceremony which has been erroneously stated in the public as an occasion when the land was released to the Owoo family is false and misleading. That ceremony was a sod-cutting ceremony for the development of the Achimota Forest into an Eco-Tourism Park. The Owoo families were mere invitees/guests.”

The Owoo Family said it “has always maintained that compensation has not been paid for the 1927 acquisition,” part of the statement noted.

However, the family has pledged to conduct themselves in a “manner which will not compromise the ecological integrity of the adjoining forest reserve.”

Read the full statement by the Owoo family below:

RE: ACHIMOTA FOREST AND MATTERS ARISING

We, the Owoo Family, have restrained ourselves from participating in the ongoing debate as a result of good advice and judgment.

We however reluctantly wish to set a few records straight as follows;

The Owoo Family, the pre-acquisition owners, of all the land acquired in 1921 and 1927 for the Achimota School, have suffered grave historical injustice;

The family have had to, in the past, accept and/or acquiesce to terms to enable it move on which it strongly believes have been unfair and unjust;

The much talked about 19th August, 2016 ceremony which has been erroneously stated in the public as an occasion when land was released to the Owoo family is false and misleading. That ceremony was a sod cutting ceremony for the development of the Achimota Forest into an Eco-Tourism park. The Owoo Family were mere invitees/guest;

The Owoo Family has always maintained that compensation has not been paid for the 1927 acquisition; and

The acreage due the Owoo family was arrived at through a long standing negotiations which in many respects predates the current administration. This was done with the active involvement of various State technical negotiators and agencies.

The Owoo family has petitioned all governments in the fourth republican dispensation and indeed is yet to take possession of any parcel of land to date.

We commit to conducting ourselves in a manner which will not compromise the ecological integrity of the adjoining forest reserve and call on the general public to please disregard any misleading contributions to the ongoing public discussions.

The reaction of the Owoo family is in response to public discourse on reports that suggested that the Achimota forest has been sold.

The reports said the government through an Executive Instrument (E.I) has given out part of the forest reserve in the capital, Accra to private developers.

However, in a Facebook post on Tuesday (17 May), the lands minister said, “Achimota Forest has NOT and will NOT be sold!!!”.

Nicholas Brown

Asaase Radio 99.5 – tune in or log on to broadcasts online
99.5 in Accra, 101.5 in Bawku, 99.9 in Bimbilla, 100.3 in Cape Coast, 90.7 in Ho, 98.5 in Kumasi, 99.7 in Tamale, 89.5 in Tarkwa and 106.9 in Walewale
Join the conversation. Call: 020 000 9951 or 059 415 7777. Or WhatsApp: 020 000 0995.
#AsaaseRadio
#TheVoiceofOurLand