GIMPA-Achimota road dangerous; blame Lands Ministry – Okaikwei North MP

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Okaikwei North, Theresa Lardi Awuni, has accused the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources of being adamant on fencing the GIMPA-Achimota road despite robbery attacks recorded on that stretch.

“I spoke to the Minister, Abu Jinapor, about the Achimota stretch to GIMPA, I asked if the ministry had plans of fencing the forest, because after 6 pm that stretch is not safe,” she said.

The area around the Achimota Forest Reserve has been noted for incidents of crime with a number of suspects arrested in recent times.

The most recent incident was on June 28, 2021, when a 24-year-old Shadrach Boakye, was arrested for his persistent harassment and attacks on commuters, including robbing them of their possessions.

Also, security analyst, Adib Saani has described that stretch as a den for criminals and therefore, suggested that the forest be fenced and increase police patrols.

“The environment looks conducive for criminals because they are able to perpetuate their crime and quickly vanish into the bush. So it is a major cause for concern. Unfortunately, we seem not to be paying attention to it and I’m wondering how many more people we are waiting to become victims,” Mr Saani stated in an earlier interview.

But the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, according to Madam Awuni, revealed the ministry had no plans of fencing the street, neither had it considered lighting it up.

“He said the ministry had no plans of fencing the forest, then I asked if they {ministry} would light up the place to ward off criminals, he said he doesn’t know if lighting up the place would upset the animals in the forest reserve and I am wondering if we are thinking about the people living in the area or those who work there?

“We are not asking for the whole forest to be fenced, it’s only the aspect of it which is close to the street but ironically, the Forestry Commission office close to GIMPA has been fenced, so I need the media to help me tell the minister to fence the Achimota forest’ she said on Accra FM monitored by theghanareport.com

Meanwhile, as part of measures to combat the increasing rate of crime in metropolitan areas, the Acting Inspector-General of Police (Ag. IGP), Dr George Akuffo Dampare, on Thursday, 12 August, launched the Horse Patrol operations in Accra to augment police patrol duties.

The patrol team would provide security in a friendly and interactive manner, with officers on horseback.

This would complement other police patrol duties including Community Foot Patrol, Motorbike Patrol, Visibility Patrol and recently deployed Motorcycle Traffic Management and Mobility Teams in Tema, Accra and other crime prune areas in the capital.