The minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Honorable Samuel Abu Jinapor, has announced government’s plan to ensure the Achimota Forest does not become a sanctuary for criminals.
He said that in order to deter criminals, the Forestry Commission has hired extra Forest Guards to police the forest on a constant basis.
The minister mentioned that the Achimota Police Station has received some logistical help and assistance from the Forestry Commission, offered in an effort to strengthen security in the Achimota Forest area.
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The minister announced this during his appearance before the Assurance Committee of Parliament to answer questions on assurances, promises, and commitments made on the Floor of Parliament and how far his outfit has worked to achieve them.
However, the claims made by the minister, according to the Chairman of the Assurance Committee, Honorable Samuel Okudjeto Ablakwa, does not reflect what is on the ground, meaning safety in and around the forest is still an issue.
He said despite the fact that the Achimota Police Station has received some logistical support to combat crime, his inspections showed that the Minister’s assertion does not accurately reflect the situation as he visited the station to learn about the challenges.
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“The Achimota Police Station still has one pickup, five motorbikes, three from the Ghana Police Service, and two provided by the Forestry Commission. With this, you can imagine how our dedicated Men and Women in uniform are going to patrol the forest enclave,” he noted.
In 2021, Security Analyst, Adib Saani called on the Ghana Police Service to beef up security around the Achimota Forest in the wake up of increasing cases of crime around the forest enclave.
Three years later, the safety in and around the Achimota Forest is still in worry to many in the capital.
