All must support Achimota Eco-park project (Back Page)

THE Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Alhaji Collins Dauda, has stated that in the face of massive encroachment, protecting the Achimota Forest is now getting out of hand.
Achimota is still the largest remaining urban green-belt in the country in spite of the fact that its initial size of more than 500 hectares has reduced to 360 hectares due to encroachment.
At the opening of a technical workshop on “Draft proposal for the development of the Achimota Forest into an urban ecological theme forest” in Accra, Alhaji Dauda indicated that the threats to the forest reserve ranged from encroachment on areas for the construction of roads through the construction of settlements to the dumping of various waste materials.
Touching on the proposed ecological park, he said its establishment had become necessary in view of the current threat to the ecological integrity of the forest.
He said the park, when developed, had the potential of providing a serene recreational environment to the people of Accra and for visitors to the capital.
Alhaji Dauda said it had become urgent at this stage for all stakeholders to make conscious effort to protect the forest from further degradation and fragmentation to ensure perpetual flow of benefits to the present and future generations.
“It is my strong conviction that the only way to protect the remaining Achimota Forest is to put it into some protective use,” he stressed.
He also expressed the conviction that the park would create a number of direct and indirect employment opportunities at various stages of the development process.
Alhaji Dauda took the opportunity to call for collaboration between other stakeholders which included the Ministry of Tourism, as well as other interest groups in the entertainment industry to contribute to ensure a successful project.
A brief on the proposed Achimota Eco-Park Project indicated that historically, the reserve was gazetted in July, 1930 with the purpose of creating a green buffer between the Achimota School and the city of Accra, as well as provide cheap fuel for the school.
It was also to be partly managed as a nature reserve, recreational park and a nature study facility for students and researchers.
The proposed Achimota Eco-Park Project is said to be full of promise and, therefore, deserves the best of efforts.