A Tema-based resident is pleading with President John Dramani Mahama to intervene and prevent the demolition of his property at Communities 6 and 11 near the Sakumo Ramsar Site, as part of ongoing government efforts to reclaim encroached wetlands.

In a petition dated August 1, 2025, Jerry John Tetteh Narhyumu sought a presidential pardon and regularisation of his property, which he says lies within the buffer zone, not the core zone, of the protected wetland.

He fears that despite this, his home may be demolished as part of the enforcement of environmental laws.

“I have invested all my savings into this property,” Narhyumu writes. “I humbly ask for your compassionate consideration… and protection of my property from demolition.”

The Sakumo Ramsar Site is one of Ghana’s most sensitive ecological zones, recently at the centre of a renewed national push to reclaim lands unlawfully developed.

But Narhyumu insists he acquired his land legally from Ginford Investment Limited, which he says had a valid lease from the Forestry Commission, the government agency in charge of managing wetlands.

The petition, copied to several high-ranking officials including the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, and the CEO of the Forestry Commission, also points to previous stakeholder engagements in 2021 and 2022 that led to a rezoning of the core area of the wetland.

Based on this revised zoning, the petitioner claims his property falls outside the core zone and should therefore be spared.

Mr. Narhyumu said he had applied for regularisation of the property with Tema Development Company (TDC) Limited but was verbally told to wait for clearance from the government.

Beyond the legal and humanitarian plea, the petitioner proposed a revenue-generating model for the government, suggesting the digital collection of property rates through Ghana Cards and mobile money payments for properties in the buffer zone.

“I am ready to collaborate with the Metropolitan Assembly to safeguard the ecological function of the wetland,” he added, pointing to his personal efforts to protect a nearby stream by planting fruit trees and grass along its banks