ACCRA, Ghana, 15th July: The Government has officially restored the Achimota Forest to its original status as a protected forest reserve following a Cabinet decision to revoke Executive Instrument (E.I.) 144 as amended by E.I. 234.
Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, announced the decision during the Government Accountability Series at the Presidency, describing it as a historic move that safeguards the Achimota Forest as an ecological buffer for Accra and its surrounding communities.
The Minister also highlighted significant progress under the government’s “Tree for Life Restoration Initiative,” launched by President John Dramani Mahama to restore degraded forest reserves and mined-out lands.
He disclosed that approximately 31 million tree seedlings were planted in 2025, restoring about 23,600 hectares of degraded landscapes. Building on that success, government has maintained its target of planting 30 million seedlings in 2026, with the nationwide exercise beginning on June 5 and expected to continue until the end of the rainy season.
To support the initiative, the Forestry Commission has recruited and deployed 2,719 Youth Forest Champions to undertake nursery operations, tree planting, wildfire prevention and the protection of forest reserves.
The Minister further announced that government, in partnership with the private sector, has reclaimed 1,535 acres of degraded mined-out land in the Ashanti Region, while another 960 acres will be reclaimed directly by government across selected parts of the country this year.
Hon. Buah appealed to Ghanaians and corporate organisations to actively participate in tree planting efforts to help restore the country’s forest cover.
Story by: Emmanuel Romeo Tetteh(#RomeoWrites✍️)/ Presidential Affairs Correspondent | Ghana 🇬🇭