Selling the Achimota Forest for GHC0.50

Kpa…kpa…kpa…kpa…kpa…kpa…kpa…kpa…kpa (I hear people clap at the background). The Achimota Forest like many others of its kind is under the able supervision of the Ghana Forestry Commission for several reasons. Some of its duties revolve around guarding the forests against illegal logging by intruders and also safeguarding the species either plants, insects or animals for smooth research activities in the country. 

However, the commission is fast losing its mandates and has rather used these forests for active human and vehicular activities. A particular instance is the Achimota Forest perversely called “the forest” which the commission has turned into a place of wild human activities from parties to Christian crusade grounds.

The Achimota Forest has for some years now assumed the place of a prayer camp churning out an annual daily visit of over five hundred (500) Ghanaians and non-Ghanaians totaling thirty-five thousand (35, 000) visitors on a weekly basis. A visit to the forest is revealing. One will be greeted on the way by songs of worship and praise in the forest. 

In a particular occasion, I was spellbounded by a couple speaking in tongue loud enough while making way out of the forest. I had to watch them in awe as I stumbled my way into the forest. Is the forest a place of research or a place of prayer? 

The Achimota Forest has suffered a lot of surgical encroachment from inhabitants of the vicinity causing the Ghana Forestry Commission to visit court actions on some of them with no significant success. This untoward activity of inhabitants has reduced the acres of the forest for the commission to make do with the remaining.

Of most significant is the fact that, some officials of the commission takes a toll of GHC0.50ps (fifty Ghana pesewas) from visitors. A payment of the fifty pesewas comes with a coupon with the name FC (registered) on it. It reads, “Entry Ticket, Achimota Park”, it is dated with the rate boldly written in a box underneath. There was an address on it which reads, “Forest Services Division, P.O. Box GP527, Accra-Ghana”. This telephone and fax numbers were provided, 776145/6 and 772728 respectively.

In a weekly basis, the Achimota Forest is able to raise over five hundred Ghana Cedis (GHC500) yet the forest looks deserted, dirty and stinking. The place is littered with pure water rubbers, take-away packs, cans and urine every few meters one take. Who is receiving these monies? Someone in the commission must be made to answer real and delicate questions. If you are charging people for visiting the forest logically it is reasonable to clean the environment to make it safe for the same visitors as well as the plant and animal species in the forest. Anything short of this means that someone is not doing his/her works well in the country.

I want to register that, I am not opposed to Christians using the forest for their activities however, I believe if their activities are well regulated to ensure cleanliness of the environment, the remaining plant and animal species in the Forest would safeguarded. That also means that, the Forest must be demarcated on the basis of research and Christian activities.

Fire…Fire…Holy Ghost Fire…to the demonic spirits, witches and wizards in my family (a group prayed).