The Human Environment and Livelihood Platform Foundation (HELP Foundation Africa) has commended the government for revoking Executive Instrument (E.I.) 144 and restoring the Achimota Forest Reserve to its full protected status.
In a statement issued on July 15, the Foundation described the decision by President John Dramani Mahama and the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, as a landmark step towards strengthening environmental conservation and sustainable natural resource governance in Ghana.
According to the organisation, the move represents a major victory for environmental protection, climate resilience and the preservation of Ghana’s natural heritage, while demonstrating the government’s commitment to balancing development with environmental stewardship.
HELP Foundation Africa noted that the Achimota Forest is Ghana’s most significant urban forest and the only gazetted forest reserve within the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area.
It explained that for decades the forest has served as an ecological lifeline by improving air quality, reducing urban temperatures, mitigating flood risks, conserving biodiversity, storing carbon and providing opportunities for environmental education, recreation and scientific research.
The Foundation further stated that the revocation of E.I. 144 restores public confidence in Ghana’s environmental governance and reinforces the constitutional obligation to protect the country’s natural resources in the national interest.
It added that the decision sends a strong signal that forests and other protected ecosystems are invaluable national assets whose long-term ecological, social and economic benefits outweigh short-term land-use interests.
The organisation also applauded the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources for what it described as his leadership, commitment and responsiveness to concerns consistently raised by civil society organisations, professional institutions, traditional authorities, environmental experts and citizens regarding the ecological significance of the Achimota Forest.
Acknowledging the contributions of stakeholders, HELP Foundation Africa recognised the sustained advocacy of environmental organisations, community groups, the Forestry Commission, the Ghana Institute of Foresters, the Ghana Institute of Planners, academia, the media and members of the public, saying their collective efforts helped keep the Achimota Forest on the national agenda and demonstrated the value of constructive civic engagement in advancing environmental justice.
While celebrating the government’s decision, the Foundation urged authorities to take further steps to secure the long-term future of the reserve.
Among its recommendations are the provision of permanent and irreversible legal protection for the entire Achimota Forest Reserve, the development and implementation of a comprehensive forest management and restoration plan, the rehabilitation of degraded sections through indigenous tree planting, stronger enforcement against encroachment and illegal developments, and the promotion of the forest as a flagship urban ecological park for conservation, recreation, environmental education, climate adaptation and sustainable ecotourism.
The Foundation also called for increased investment in urban forestry, the integration of green infrastructure into national and metropolitan development planning, and the expansion of protection and restoration efforts to other threatened forest reserves and critical ecosystems across the country.
Reaffirming its commitment to environmental sustainability, HELP Foundation Africa pledged to continue collaborating with the government, the Forestry Commission, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, development partners, traditional authorities, civil society organisations, academia and local communities to promote sustainable forest governance, biodiversity conservation, climate resilience and community participation in natural resource management.
The organisation expressed the hope that the restoration of the Achimota Forest Reserve would serve as a defining moment in Ghana’s environmental history and become a model for protecting other ecologically important landscapes across the country.
It concluded by reiterating its belief that Ghana can achieve economic development while preserving its natural environment.
“Protecting Nature, Empowering Communities, Securing the Future.”
The statement was signed by the Executive Director of HELP Foundation Africa, Kwadwo Kyei Yamoah.
