The Achimota Forest Reserve has been trending on social media, especially Twitter and Facebook, since midday.

This follows reports that government has through an Executive Instrument (E.I), said the very popular reserve is no longer a forest reserve.

Details of the E.I signed by the Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, states that the land is no longer required as a forest reserve.

It further added that the cessation is effective May 1, 2022.

“An Executive Instrument (E.I.) 144 gazetted on behalf of President Akufo-Addo by the Lands Minister Samuel Abdulai Jinapor indicates that effective May 1, 2022, the land on which the Forest is located shall cease to be a forest reserve.”

“The President’s action was in accordance with Section 19 of the Forest Act, 1927 (CAP. 157) which gives him the authority to declare that particular land is no longer required as a forest reserve,” a portion of the E.I said.

This news has got a lot of Twitter users expressing their concerns on same.

The Achimota School Twitter handle (@AchimotaSchool) tweeted asking “is it true Achimota Forest Reserve has been sold?”

Is it true Achimota Forest Reserve has been sold ? #Ghana pic.twitter.com/VtbaGb0khJ

— Achimota School (@AchimotaSchool) May 17, 2022

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In 1930, the colonial govt of Gold Coast (now Ghana) bought about 5 sq km of land in Achimota, marginally increasing its meagre land holdings, to set up a Forest Reserve. In 2013, the govt transformed the reserve into an Eco-park. This month, the Prez ended the reserve status. pic.twitter.com/4ZhxTFzmou

— Bright Simons (@BBSimons) May 17, 2022

Below are a few of the tweets in relation to the news.

By command of the president – The Achimota Forest may soon cease to exist as a reserve – it seems. pic.twitter.com/j8rj9cDVUQ

— Nii Ayertey Aryeh (@nii_ayertey) May 17, 2022

President Akufo-Addo under Executive Instrument 144 has lifted the1927 classification of the Achimota Forest in the Greater Accra Region as a Forest Reserve, paving way for its redesignation, reclassiffication, sale and development by other interests

We are doomed!! pic.twitter.com/FHAqSh24S9

— AKWESI🧘🏽‍♂️🇬🇭🇬🇭 (@_AlbertAkwesi) May 17, 2022

Government of Ghana claims to be embarking on the Green project to sustain the vegetation yet the same government has declared Achimota forest as no longer a forest. Therefore the trees can be brought down for construction works to begin. What a confused country we live in!

— Lady Mogambo (@afua_henewaa) May 17, 2022

The cessation of Achimota forest as a reserve really worries me. In this era of climate change. Something all past Presidents have avoided but only one decided to do. Ei!!

— El (@Naa_Rida) May 17, 2022

The Achimota Forest Reserve is no longer a forest reserve as per this Executive Instrument gazetted on behalf of President Akufo-Addo on 19th April, 2022.

Why?

What is wrong with us?

We are going to sell it off to inner circle peeps. #saveGhanaForests pic.twitter.com/1xtCoNZzbY

— Kwaku Asante (@kwakuasanteb) May 17, 2022

A WHOLE FOREST OOOOOO! DEM PUT ACHIMOTA FOREST FOR TONATON! Ei Jesus😭😭😭😭😭😭

— Africa’s ‘Larry King’🎙🇬🇭 (@OleleSalvador) May 17, 2022