The Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has been summoned to appear before Parliament over the alleged distribution of state land among family of government appointees and private persons.

He is expected to answer questions on the controversial Achimota Forest lands and recent revelation that state lands have been ceded to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

Ranking Member on Parliament's Lands and Forestry Committee, Rashid Pelpuo, said the Damongo Member of Parliament will be questioned on Tuesday, May 7 over the status of public lands in the country.

Addressing the media in Parliament on Thursday, Ranking Member on the Committee, Mr Hassan Pelpuo, claimed lands are being grabbed by appointees and family members in other regions.

In addition, he said state lands have not been accounted for.

“Whilst we are thinking about the Achimota Lands issue, others are coming up about lands in Kumasi and other regional capitals. These concerns have gotten to the point that we think we need to talk about it; we need to investigate it and we need to get the Minister to respond to issues that we are bringing up.

“We have already signaled to the Minister to come before us, the membership of the Committee of Lands and Forestry – to explain to us the circumstances under which government is finding it compelling to give out lands it has acquired years ago,” the Wa Central legislator said.

Meanwhile, some Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), including OccupyGhana, have demanded the suspension of the operation of Executive Instrument (E.I.) 144 by government.

In a letter dated May 23, 2022, addressed to the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, the CSO said, “We write to demand that you revoke or suspend the operation of the Forests (Cessation of Forest Reserve) Instrument, 2022 (EI 144) and the Forests (Achimota Firewood Plantation Forest Reserve) (Amendment) Instrument, 2022 (EI 154) forthwith.”

OccupyGhana added that “instead, we demand a full public inquiry under Chapter 23 of the Constitution into the matter of the Achimota Forest Reserve.”