Cabinet has directed the immediate revocation of Executive Instrument (E.I.) 144, as amended by E.I. 234, restoring the Achimota Forest to its original status as a protected Forest Reserve.

The announcement was made by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah, who said the decision ensures that the Achimota Forest remains an ecological safety zone for Accra and its surrounding communities.

He made the annoucement during Government Accountability Series on Wednesday July 15, 2026 at the Jubilee House.

According to the minister, the move reflects government's renewed commitment to protecting one of the capital's most important green spaces, which plays a vital role in biodiversity conservation, climate regulation and environmental sustainability.

The Achimota Forest, the only gazetted forest reserve within the Greater Accra Region, has been the subject of intense public debate in recent years following the promulgation of E.I. 144, which declassified portions of the reserve.

The development sparked widespread opposition from environmental groups, civil society organisations and conservation advocates, who argued that the instrument threatened the long-term protection of the forest and repeatedly called for its repeal.

The revocation of E.I. 144, together with the amendment introduced under E.I. 234, is expected to reinforce legal protection for the reserve and preserve its role as a critical ecological buffer for the capital.

The decision also forms part of government's broader efforts to strengthen environmental conservation, protect urban green spaces and promote sustainable land management in the face of increasing development pressures.

MA