The Greater Accra Regional Security Council (REGSEC) has demolished unauthorised structures on portions of the degraded Dodowa forest, following its declaration as a security zone.
The decision was made in response to concerns raised by the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs regarding the escalating encroachment of the forest by private developers.
In a collaborative effort with the Forestry Commission, REGSEC undertook a tree-planting exercise after the demolition to restore the affected areas of the forest.
Speaking to journalists, Daniel Titus Glover, the Regional Minister and Chairman of the Greater Accra Regional Security Council, elaborated on the initiative.
“We declared the Dodowa forest and Katamanso Pinkwai forests as a security zone. These are two landmark forests in Ga-dangbe history. So we are here to regain our forest back with the support of the forestry commission, they have given us some trees that we are coming to plant, then DCE and some students around to do the planting.”
“I have got documents from the regional house of chiefs that state that this land is for the Shai people. We told them, if they have documents, bring them to the RCC. As we speak, nobody has brought us any document apart from what the registrar brought to us from the Regional House of Chiefs.
“So we are here to do two things. We break this wall and plant the trees back. This place is a security zone, we are regaining our forest back.”
The youth of Dodowa expressed their excitement over efforts by the government to reclaim the forest.