Cabinet has approved the immediate revocation of Executive Instrument (E.I.) 144, a move that restores all lands removed from the Achimota Forest Reserve back to their original protected status.
The announcement was made by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, during the Government Accountability Series on Wednesday, July 15.
According to the minister, the decision reflects the government’s commitment to protecting the Achimota Forest and preserving it for future generations.
He explained that the revocation of E.I. 144, as amended by E.I. 234, means all portions of the forest reserve that had been excised under the instrument will once again become part of the legally protected forest reserve.
E.I. 144 came into force on May 1, 2022, removing about 361.5 acres (approximately 146 hectares) from the Achimota Forest Reserve.
The instrument included survey plans identifying the specific parcels of land that were no longer to be treated as part of the reserve.
The decision sparked significant public opposition at the time, with environmental groups, civil society organisations and sections of the public warning that the move could open the area to commercial and residential development, putting one of Greater Accra’s few remaining urban forests at risk.
Kofi Armah-Buah said Cabinet’s latest decision is intended to reverse those changes and strengthen legal protection for the forest.
He noted that the Achimota Forest remains an important environmental asset, helping to absorb carbon emissions, improve air quality, conserve biodiversity and regulate temperatures within Accra and surrounding communities.
Beyond its environmental value, the forest also serves as a major recreational space for residents, making its protection critical to the capital’s long-term ecological sustainability.
