The Greater Accra Regional Security Council (REGSEC) has taken decisive action by demolishing unauthorised structures within the degraded Dodowa forest, following its designation as a security zone. 

This move comes in response to mounting concerns from the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs about the increasing encroachment by private developers on the forest land.

The demolition, carried out in collaboration with the Forestry Commission, was part of a broader effort to protect and restore the forest. Following the clearance of illegal structures, REGSEC and the Forestry Commission initiated a tree-planting exercise to rehabilitate the affected areas, reinforcing the region’s commitment to environmental conservation.

Daniel Titus Glover, the Greater Accra Regional Minister and Chairman of REGSEC, provided further clarification on the initiative during a press briefing. 

He highlighted the importance of preserving the Dodowa forest and emphasized that the action taken was necessary to protect this critical natural resource.

Titus Glover noted that the demolition was not only aimed at halting illegal activities but also at setting a precedent for the protection of other vulnerable areas across the region. 

He expressed confidence that the combined efforts of REGSEC and the Forestry Commission would restore the forest to its former state.

The Regional Minister also called on the public and relevant stakeholders to support the ongoing efforts to maintain the integrity of the Dodowa forest, stressing the need for continued vigilance to prevent further encroachment.

“We declared the Dodowa forest and Katamanso Pinkwai forests as a security zone. These are two landmark forests in Ga-dangbe history. So we are here to regain our forest back with the support of the Forestry Commission, they have given us some trees that we are coming to plant, and the DCE and some students are around to do the planting.”

“I have got documents from the Regional House of Chiefs that state that this land is for the Shai people. We told them, if they have documents, bring them to the RCC. As we speak, nobody has brought us any document apart from what the registrar brought to us from the Regional House of Chiefs."

“So we are here to do two things. We break this wall and plant the trees back. This place is a security zone, we are regaining our forest back.”