August 5, 2021. Gator Edudzi Amenuveve
NATIONAL TYMES.
The Hon. Member of Parliament, MP for Okaikwei North, Madam Theresa Lardi Awuni has asked the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources to immediately secure the Achimota Forests reserves with a fence.
The MP made the call following how criminals and bandits use the reserves as a haven for their nefarious activities.
According to her, fencing the Achimota Forest reserves would help ward off the criminals’ gangs and strengthen the security capacity to effect an arrest.
Hon Theresa Awuni made the request when she posed a question to the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor last Monday, August 2, 2021, as to whether the state considers fencing the Forest to reduce the crime rate in the enclave.
“Mr. Speaker, I rise to ask the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources what measures the Ministry is putting in place to fence the Achimota Forest, to reduce attacks by criminals on nearby residents and motorists?”, she quizzed the Minister.
It would be recalled that most recently, residents and motorists using the Achimota forest roads leading to the GIMPA enclave drew the nation’s attention to the activities of criminals in the state forest reserves.
However, in answer, the sector Minister, Hon Samuel Abu Jinapor, said although security in and around the Achimota Forest is of great concern to all, the Ministry’s has no plans of fencing the Forest but rather to work with the security agencies to provide the needed security for the protection of the forest and residents around it.
According to the Minister, the Forestry Commission, which is responsible for the protection and management of Forest Reserves, has deployed a number of Forest Guards to permanently patrol the Forest to chase out encroachers and criminals.
“Mr. Speaker, the Achimota Police Station, situated within the peripheral portions of the Forest Reserve, patrols the area to provide protection against encroachers and criminals.
“The Forestry Commission provides logistical support, particularly the provision of motorbikes and vehicle repairs, to the Police Station, to beef up security in and around the Forest Reserve,” added the Minister.
He further informed Parliament, the Ministry is examining whether the Forest Reserve, in its current state, is fit for purpose, stating that, the government is “looking at proposals for developing the Forest into the likes of Central Park in New York or Hyde Park in London, to give a facelift to the Forest while preserving its ecological integrity.”
This, Hon Abu Jinapor said he would also give further protection to the Forest and the residents near the Forest.
He explained that the government has taken notices of the persistent criminal activities in the Achimota Forest and is looking forward to redevelopment of the Forest into a more productive investment enclave while still serving the purpose.
But Hon Theresa Awuni charged the governments to put in place processes and mechanisms that would prevent criminals from accessing the forest as their hideouts to launch their attack on residents and escape into the same forest.
She said in the recent past, residents have been experiencing an inexplicable escalation of criminal activities, where people have their handbags and phones snatched and others have their vehicles burgled or smashed.
Source: Nationaltymes.com
