‘Protect our green spaces’ – Group fights conversion of Parks and Gardens land into office complex
Environmental protection advocacy group, Eco-Conscious Citizens Ghana, has once again raised red flags over the government’s decision to convert the Parks and Gardens head office at Cantonment in Accra into an office complex.
According to the group, despite an earlier opposition to the government’s decision, some environmental protection officers have been sighted on the land conducting a survey.
The coordinator of the group, Awula Serwah, wondered why so much effort was being made to build on the Parks and Gardens land when the focus should be on planting, developing the green economy and raising awareness of the importance of green spaces.
She said the outbreak of COVID-19 in Ghana must be a wake-up call to duty bearers to protect and safeguard the environment.
“A lot of our green spaces have already been built on. Covid-19 has reminded us of the importance of clean air, clean water, and open spaces. It is astonishing that anyone would think of re-zoning Parks and Gardens land from green civic to exclusively civic in order to build a multi-storey office on Parks and Gardens land meant for greenery.
“Accra is prone to flooding. Plants, especially trees, could make a difference in preventing flooding and generally improving the quality of life,” she said.
The Department of Parks and Gardens is a state institution tasked with the mandate to improve the rapid development of the horticultural potential of Ghana’s urban and rural sectors.
The Eco-Conscious Citizens in May 2019, petitioned President Akufo-Addo over the felling of over 100 trees and destruction of plants at the head office of the Department of Parks and Gardens at Cantonments in Accra.
Despite their appeal for the President to use his office to preserve the parks and gardens land for greenery purposes, the group says there are still attempts to build on the land.
Awula Serwah, however, called on Ghanaians to join in the fight to preserve the Parks and Gardens land to safeguard the environment.
Respect for covering this issue. Ghanaians better sit up and pay more attention to green issues. If a government agency charged with promoting planting can have their land further encroached upon, it would seem no green space is safe from environmental vandals whose only view of devolopment is to pile concrete structures wherever they see open space!
We need to preserve the Parks and Gardens land. Accra has lost most of its green spaces and we are feeling the effects. The zoning that was done decades ago was to prevent flooding, maintain the ecology, beautify the city etc. Awula Serwah thank you for fighting to preserve the Parks and Gardens. We support the cause….
Thank you. Well said, you are spot on when you say that “The zoning that was done decades ago was to prevent flooding, maintain the ecology, beautify the city etc”. I encourage Ghanaians to take note of section 41 (k) of the 1992 constitution which states that “it shall be the duty of every citizen to protect and safeguard the environment”. Together we will make a difference.
Accra is now a Concrete Jungle with little to no vegetation
Just cold structures of Concrete and Steel
We can’t afford to lose a Department established to ensure the reservation of parks abd gardens and promote Green civics.
We must fight against Environmental Vandalism
Why can’t Parks and Gardens invest in horticulture instead of concrete? The Japanese recognise the value of trees for our physical and mental wellbeing.
Forest bathing Shirin – Yoku is a way of benefiting from the trees that surround us. The Green Economy is a sustainable way of providing jobs, using the natural resources we have. Let us think outside the box and value our green spaces.
You are right, but sadly the focus appears to be on expanding the concrete jungle. Vision is needed to see the alternative and embrace the Green Economy. We have to continue doing what we can to preserve our green spaces.
Great Indeed, the younger generation needs people like you dear madam to help lead them for better Ghana for all
https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/environment-and-conservation/2019/10/what-forest-bathing-and-how-does-it-help
You are right, but sadly the focus appears to be on expanding the concrete jungle. Vision is needed to see the alternative and embrace the Green Economy. We have to continue doing what we can to preserve our green spaces.
seems the government has better business to deal with in the pandemic and focusing solely on short term economics and electoral issues. Long term capital and investments in human capital and socio economic balance is not a priority. Lack of foresight and vision will affect generations to come and environmental issues, climate change and sustainability should be at the forefront of any Government’s agenda. I challenge the government to consider their position and thereby create a legacy for generations to come; avoid a concrete jungle which contributes to the suffocation of the elements and in particular Accra which needs redemption from the vestiges of capitalist greed.
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This shouldn’t happen. Parks & Gardens must be revamped to fulfil its mandate as already outlined. Let’s all join hands to ensure the re-zoning is defeated. We owe it to posterity to do our bit.
I have been reliably informed that Parks and Gardens Area has been re-zoned from Green Civic to EXCLUSIVELY Civic. Lands Commission has given its consent. Eco-Conscious Citizens attended the September 2019 meeting where the re-zoning application was refused. We were not invited to the meeting that approved the re-zoning. It appears the re-zoning was done without consulting stakeholders who would have opposed it.
Green is nature , let us not DISTROY the beauty of nature. Parks and Gardens should be kept and protected