![FourthEstate](https://thefourthestategh.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/4thestate-log-2a.png")
When President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo signed an executive instrument declassifying parts of the Achimota Forest as a forest reserve, many Ghanaians greeted the decision with an outpour of outrage.
Many took to social media and accused the political elite of attempts to sell the lands to themselves and their cronies. The government has denied the accusations, saying it was only returning part of the land to its rightful owners.
But even as the dust on the Achimota Forest controversy is yet to settle, the will of a former general secretary of the governing New Patriotic Party, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, had emerged and contains some parcel of lands at the Achimota Forest.
Until his death, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, popularly known as Sir John, was the Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission.
The will, which has been sighted and confirmed by The Fourth Estate, contains four parcels of specified and unspecified acres of land in the Achimota Forest, which the late politician bequeathed to named persons.
On page 4 of the will, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, whose office was situated at the Achimota Forest until his death, states:
“I give my land situate at the Achimota Forest in the name of Jakaypro Limited and measuring 5.541 acres to the following persons forever.
–Yaw Amoateng Afriyie -One (1) acre
— Eva Akua Afriyie One (1) acre
–Ivy Akua Afriyie One (1) acre
–Elizabeth Asare Boateng (aka Mother) One (1) acre
–Michael Owusu 1.541 acres
On page 5 of the will, it is stated: “I give my land also situate at the Achimota Forest in the name of Fasoh Limited and measuring 0.987acres to my nephews Michael Owusu, Yaw Boadu and Kwabena Amoateng forever.”
On the same page, the will states: “I jointly own a piece of land at Achimota Forest with Charles Owusu. Upon my demise, my portion of the said land should be given to Ruth Korkor Odonkor.”
That’s not all. On the same page 5 and still on the Achimota Forest, the will states: “I give my portion of land that jointly own at the Achimota Forest in the name of DML Limited to Elizabeth Asare Boateng who at the time of making this will is domiciled in the USA forever.”
The former head of the forestry commission also stated in the will that he owned land at the Ramsar area in Sakumono in Accra.
“I give my land situate at the Ramsar area at Sakumono in the Greater Accra Region and measuring 5.07 acres to my sisters Abena Saah and her children, Comfort Amoateng and her children, Abena Konadu and Juliet Akua Arko and her children on equal share basis forever,” the will states.
The Centre for Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Services (CERSGIS) defines a Ramsar site as “a wetlands site designated to be of international importance under the Ramsar convention. It provides for national action and international cooperation regarding the conservation of wetlands, and wise sustainable use of their resources.”
According to CERSGIS, the Sakumono site “is the only wetland wholly owned by the government and is meant for protecting Sakumono, Tema and their environs against floods and pollution, for the breeding of fish for the Sakumono Lagoon, as well as recreational activities.”
In June 2021, officials of CERSGIS and the Forestry Commission visited the site and observed that the site had “come under serious threat to the brink of extinction due to the heavy encroachment that had plagued the area for over three decades.”
The Forestry Commission, which Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie headed until his death, has published the Wetland Management (Ramsar Sites) Regulations 1999 that lists the Sakumono Ramsar site as part of the protected wetlands in Ghana. It prohibits a host of human activities in Ramsar sites.
Mr. Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie died on July 1, 2020, of Covid-19-related complications while receiving treatment at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.
He made his last will on May 21, 2020, less than two months before his death. The will named Charles Owusu and Nana Boakye Acheampong as executors.
It contained houses, lands, Kejetia market stalls, gold production investments and money in local and foreign banks as the properties to be distributed among the named persons in the will.
Other properties to be inherited included fuel stations, 13 private vehicles and 10 fuel tankers and five pump action guns.
Ministry reacts to will
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has indicated it will investigate the alleged inclusion of Achimota Forest lands in Sir John’s will.
A statement issued on Sunday, May 22, 2022, and published on the Facebook page of the ministry, said the ministry took “a very serious view of the allegations”. Here is the full statement issued by the Ministry:
“The attention of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has been drawn to a document making the rounds on social media, which alleges that the late former Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, had included portions of the Achimota Forest in his Will, and given out same to individuals who are said to be related to him.
“The Ministry takes a very serious view of the allegations and has requested for all documents relating to the lands in question, as part of an initial inquiry to ascertain the veracity of the claims. Considering that the issues that form the basis of the allegations predate the tenure of the current Minister, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, MP, it is important that he is seized with the full facts to enable him take appropriate action, if, indeed, there is any merit in the claims.
“The Ministry assures the general public and the good people of Ghana that it will ensure that the national interest is protected at all times, especially in matters pertaining to the Achimota Forest.”
Below are pages from the will of Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie (Sir John):
Good work done bro
Eeeeiii ?
Hmmmmmmmmm. But for his death, we could never know.
Politicians!!!!! Na lie!!
Na waaaaaaa for Ghana oooooooo.
Why are some of our leaders, so Selfish, Greedy and Insensitive to our plight as a Nation???? God help us all.
I wonder who can lead our country for us? How can a politician think of making so much at the expense of the state.
The family should bow their heads in shame for what their father illegally acquired. If after the investigation it’s proven to be true, what at all can be done to a dead Goat ?
Is he the only culprit, are there others eiiiiiii Ghana shine your eyes oohhhh.
Paul Kagami of Rwanda is an example of a leader we need in Africa.
Very sad , Ghana in the hands of wrong people because of the choice some Ghanaians made in an election
The alternative isn’t much better. Let’s stop making this about a particular party. Our leaders are myopic, greedy and inept, period!
that’s the usual utterances of a disappointed NPP fanatic.
There we go! NPP has sinned, let’s add NDC to cover them.
Can’t agree with you more. The narrow mindedness of many on this issue is spectacular. looking at it from the usual partisan parochial angle. If we really want to make public who owns what in Ghana, the outcomes will be unbelievable. Most expressing outrage publicly,pray in private that their assets don’t get exposed. The party folks particularly the youth who have specialized in utilising their productive time in defending everything based on nothing may start wising up. How many foot soldiers show up on the WILL? How many of the beneficiaries are active npp members? A can of worms has just been opened.
If at this stage…some people still think that The NDC with all its flaws is not a superior alternative to this criminal organisation…I seriously question their intellect.
These people want to take over every strategic national asset from PDS, Gold, Forest Reserves and more! They have mortgaged GETFUND, ESLA etc for loans for consumption.
Look at the debt ! Look at the press freedom…lowest ever ranking. Look at corruption index? Look at credit rating of the economy !
The special prosecutor and Auditor agenda hounded out of office and you say its not about a political party !!!!!!!!!
Nonsense!
Your type is what is wrong in that country. Kuraaaasini
The the truth still stands; this level of corruption is unprecedented… whaaaaaat?
You haven’t seen anything yet. Should we as a country request that all those in political and top government positions declare their assets right now, the truth will kill our country before the political themselves do.
It is very much about Sir John! and his party! They came into office to enrich themselves and their family
So you mean we should continue with this government? The alternative is thousand times better than thievrying going on
Who mention a party here. Why is it that when facts are been presented then some of you try to make a generalization of things. Which alternative are u referring to here.
If at this stage…some people still think that The NDC with all its flaws is not a superior alternative to this criminal organisation…I seriously question their intellect.
These people want to take over every strategic national asset from PDS, Gold, Forest Reserves and more! They have mortgaged GETFUND, ESLA etc for loans for consumption.
Look at the debt ! Look at the press freedom…lowest ever ranking. Look at corruption index? Look at credit rating of the economy !
The special prosecutor and Auditor agenda hounded out of office and you say its not about a political party !!!!!!!!!
Nonsense!
So comparing the two, you think this is better of the two evils.
Unfortunately we have to look at the party, a party who’s founding fathers conspired with foreign powers to overtly and covertly overthrow a legitimate leader ( Nkrumah ), forcefully tries to change the country’s history by changing the text and content.
Both parties are not 100% and will never be but looking at the facts before us now without any political filters…
You sit and say “the alternative isn’t much better”.
The alternate would’ve
been much better. But in life you sometimes have to see the worse to appreciate what you had.
It’s gone and we will never know…
Exactly
Wicked people in Power!!!
It’s not about a wrong choice made, all our politicians are criminals. Tell us the party that has not got these greedy thieves. Only God knows the kind of stollen wealth the rest of the NNP folks and NDC folks are sitting on. We cannot make any better choice.
Politics gone bad. God bless the Fourth Estate for the in-depth analysis of the issue.
Very useful for nation building.
African leaders use politics only to enrich themselves leaving the citizens to suffer
Good work done Manasseh Azure Awuni
So where was my father when these guys were busily grabbing properties?
You did a great job, so this is another politician having most of his huge properties in other forms of names, how much more there is to reveal in other politicians, some day it will all make sense!
This is an issue of the proverbial death of a frog and its real length…..
…some of de pages needs re-posting only if u did not do dis intentionally
Kindly investigate the GJA.
I learnt the Association was given contract in procuring PPE’s for the past 2020 election.
I do t really know what’s going on in this country, we live in peace and now the enemy has taken over not to reshape it but to destroy it and tear it into pieces. Can we impeach this president? Because my heart bleeds in pain whenever I hear this ugly thing going on the right people that we entrust are silent. The church is corrupt, and the military is part, of the security is totally corrupt and shining like a rotten wood.. God have mercy but God is watching…
This is damming revelations which need not to be swept under the carpet. This document need to be investigated to ascertain its veracity. Pen robbers parading as politicians milking the country mercilessly. The country is really bleeding under this corrupt and incompetent group of robbers who aren’t armed. God have mercy!
Who aren’t armed?? They are in connection with the forces to wreck this nation forever. Only God can rescue us.
Criminals in suits.
Criminals in suits, jumpers, kaftans, jalabiya and all that is in between
The Ghana we all have is divided and sold for persons known as themselves ???
Not news, even circle ll in politricktions will, they are there for their cronies and family
So the Achimota forest has already been distributed. Ordinary Ghanaians doesn’t matter, they will continue to burden us with hardship, whiles they the politicians continue to create, loot and share the spoils of war(election), the ordinary Ghanaian will continue strive and when the time comes we will rise
Am speechless.
When is the next uprising?
One person owning such lands at critical areas of the countr? We are not going anywhere as a nation. Why don’t we sell Ghana instead of few enjoying.
Fee fi fo fum, I see Achimota Forest Reserve spring up with family trees ?
So so so SAD ???
Did we (Ghanians) make a mistake, given Nana Addo the opportunity to govern us?
After reading Sir John’s Last Will! I now believe some of us just came to accompany people on this earth ooo?? what!?
ohhh My God!!!1
Congratulations Manasseh
All those commenting here don’t have our names in the will, like by now we will all keep quiet. That is how we all are. When it is going for us, then we shut up, but if it is against us, then we bark.. ? ?.. Funny country.
Say it again.. many of us whish we were mentioned in the will?
How can one who died in July 2020 signed a will dated August 2021?
This is a certified copy of the will made in 2021. You know there is a family controversy on this will. His widow is contesting it thats why its in the public domain.
And it makes sense. That Michael Owusu guy got even more that some of his children. Sir. John just informed us he is a typical Ashanti man. But whatever the case, Ghana must stop party politics now and let a few godly people lead. After all, how big is the country?
How can people be this wicked! Our country is doomed in the hands of politicians. If the head of an agency can loot lands like this. You can just imagine what the likes of our presidents have done already.
I can’t believe what am reading?
Blessed is a nation whose leaders value wisdom over wealth – Michael Adu-Carol
So sad to be seeing this greediness going on in this Ghana. At times I wonder whether we have a future in this country.
Actually, I am not surprise at all but sadly disappointed at manner in state properties are being opened for graps. I can’t fathom the intention of leaders to serve our general good.
As for the current crop of leaders, they would move heaven and earth to sell Ghana’s birth right.
Eiii, so we deɛ hmmmm
What!??? Am speechless ?
Hmm??? eeei
It’s very sad that we ve all these pple in Ghana. Their family pple too are ready to inherit these I suppose.God help us. We need more of covid look alike for anyone who steals or go into politics to amass wealth for his family n those who inherit as well.May the Good God punish n kill them. Greedy old foolish wicked thieves. The youth is disappointed in u all n we shall vote again.
Eiiii… Talk about a will of a politician… The man has been busy
And the rich will forever be rich and the poor forever be poor unless God come in, hmmmm
????????
Eii
I AM EXTREMELY SAD AS A CITIZEN OF GHANA. IF THIS WHAT THE CHILD SERPENT WAS SWALLOWING THEN HOW MUCH IS THE MOTHER SERPENT SWALLOWING. THEY CAN USE POWER TO ESCAPE JUDGEMENT ON EARTH BUT LET’S SEE HOW THEY CAN ESCAPE JUDGEMENT IN THEIR GRAVE.
Can Elon Musk just buy Ghana.Because eeeihhhhh.
This country Ghana is doomed unless we organize and collect our country ??
This country is politically decayed.There has to be a complete overhaul of the current status quo and the elite and middle class, and the nonpolitically aligned youth of this country must lead this charge.Out country’s resources is been plundered and pilfered with reckless abandon by the political elite.
The best investigative journalist in World well done ayekoooooooooo
Wow! I am just speechless! When they say they are in there to serve the citizens, this is what it really means. Smh
Hmmmm, so in that case it means were the citizens are longer citizens but rather foreigners. Because the nation itself has been sold and now owned by greedy politicians and their family members. Hmmmm?, very sad to be a Ghanaian. May God be our help alone. More secrets of these greedy politicians will be exposed soon. This is just the beginning. God bless you The Fourth Estate for this great work.??
Yɛ ti sika so ampa! ?
Oh! Npp! May the good Lord never allow their wickedness to be concealed. Oh, John mahama! Forgive me for my harsh words against your goverment in 2016.we villified you for no reason to make way for the then opposition to win power with the belief that they could perform better. Little did we know that they were coming to share the country among themselves. May the npp party face perpetual destruction because of their evil motives. May these greedy people and their entire generation be plagued with incurabe diseases. Oh, mother ghanA! Where is your future with thieves in the helm of the state affairs?
I sometimes wonder, what the state of Ghana would have been had our lands and resources belonged to the state. Would it have been any better??
Just when you think things couldn’t get any worse in this country. Hmmmmm… My heart bleeds for the future of this country.
But is it legal to post someone’s will in the public domain? Just asking please? Kindly educate me…
Thank you, Kennedy. The overriding principle here is public interest. Read Article 18(2) of the 1992 Constitution
This information is sooo sad and humbling.
To think that some of our dear brothers are still in the mood of selling their fellow human beings for money and food and capricious living?
What a disgrace.
Jesus Christ of Nazareth, I am still in disbelief. I am very angry sad and having roller coster of emotions right now. How much do we tax payers pay these politicians and why are they milking us dry this way. What’s our offence? Oh
Even Kwame Nkrumah with all his toils never had such properties.woowww,im even shocked.And all these properties were acquired between 2017 to 2020.hmmmm
I swear im speechless.Even Kwame Nkrumah didn’t amassed such wealth.surprisingly all these properties were acquired between 2017 to 2020.Ghana is indeed finished.All politicians are thieves but Dankwah-Busia are the masters of the Game
WE LIVE & DIE. THIS IS SOMEONE’S DEEDS. IS SAD ALL OF US DON’T HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE OTHERS OWN. ANYWAY, GOD KNOWS BEST. HE IS WATCHING US ALL FROM HEAVENLY ABODE.
Very interesting… Nana Addo will soon sell Ghana
WAAAWOLO!
This is very shameful. Our leaders are too greedy, selfish and not God fearing. Create loot and share.
Shame onto our politicians.
I know God will punish all the greedy ones deep into their families
They will later help their relatives in business and in a decade time they will come and tell us they started their business with 2 ghc. May God help us all.
Very sad how one person could greedily grab all these properties for himself. Where did we go wrong as a people? This is beyond partisan politics and we the youth must rise and take what belongs to us, we can’t keep quiet and watch this criminals loot the country like this. Arise Ghana youth for your country.
God bless your heart and hardwork. Eeeeiiii Ama Ghana ????????
Nana Addo claims to be anti corruption crusader. And these things happening under his watch. “If you’re coming into my government to amass wealth then you better go into other business” what happened to this promise from the President to the people of Ghana? They’re all the same, thieves! Ghana is doomed forever if these are the men running the affair la of the country. Oh! Me man Ghana!!
It said that “the true length of a frog can only be adequately determined when it is dead”. Making rounds in social media is the alleged will of the late Sir John as popularly known and answer to a name Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie who was the Chief Executive of the state institution that advised the Minister leading to give away of some portions of the Achimota Forest. His will suggests that he must have benefited from some portion of the Achimota Forest land. Could this be a conflict-of-interest situation knowing his role as chief executive and the role of the Forestry Commission as the technical agency on whose advice the minister acted? Is it not about time for serving officials in government and government agencies appointed by the executive wing of government are banned from participating in the acquisition of state lands, movable and immovable property if the state chooses to diversify its interest in such property? My proposal is that this ban should extend to cover both serving officials (spouse, children and close relatives and corporate bodies in which any of the listed has interest) and those who previously served in these capacities within the window of 20 years. Last week I listened to the minister claiming the lands have been released to the Owu Family, but the emergence of Sir John will suggest the minister’s position is not exactly the case unless otherwise, Sir John is a member of the Owu family. Even in that case, the conflict of interest provision persists. Just look at the will and you will see the vehicles used to conceal ownership in order to grab public property for private gains and transmit the same to their family in perpetuity (Fasoh Limited and DML Limited). Corruption stings and raids us of social services for the benefit and the sad part of the story is we directly or indirect elect or appoint them in the exercise of our civic responsibilities. Have a great week.
God help us
Sometimes just sometimes you can’t but feel disappointed as Ghanaian. Hmmmmm politicians of all divide have decided to turn the country into a cash cow where they will always want to milk it dry. God save our Homeland Ghana ????????
How come that when some people are in power this is all they do. Selling Ghana to themselves. Its sad paaa meanwhile none of these properties no matter how much of it you accumulate will safe you from death. See Sir John even in your resting place, young people are insulting you.
Greediness….kai Ghana…
Greediness…. Oh Ghana.!!
We don’t have head in this country call Ghana
I wish this is not true
But wishes are not horses
This is serious ooo
How many of these properties did he take with him. Politicians can do what ever they wished. God is our helper.
If this is true then we have a long way to go with democracy. My concern is, which Lawyer released these documents to the public domain?. Was he/she under duress ? This was supposed to be read to family members privately anaa???
I pity party fool soldiers who will still buy credit to go on air and defend the indefensible.
You are right about that. Sometimes I wonder if the British had stayed a little longer, our country would be in a better position, if not the best. This cycle of looting and mismanagement has gone on since independence, irrespective of who is in power. The only difference is some “chop” deeper than others.
The type of misleaders we have are useless simple.
Some politicians in this country make life soo miserable for some people who couldn’t achieve much in life, let us be happy that we now know the roots of his wealth. We all work hard in this country but yet still we do not get what is rightly ours it all ends up in the hands of greedy men.
???? I think it won’t be bad to e-levy this will and all wills
These politicians need to undergo extensive scrutiny. I’ve made aware. Grateful for creating the awareness.
This is just one individual who owns all these. Just imagine what is under the seats of the top party government officials. They rob the nation while the ordinary citizens suffer. One of these days someone will have to take the law into their own heads and clean them up up. Since those supposed to uphold the law are the ones breaking it. Thieves
I keep saying the problem is from those who vote to elect the flag bearer for the 2 parties..they always give us bomb …ghana smh
This exposé together with several others, show the many flaws we have in our democracy and the uselessness of anti-graft institutions in this country. We have to fix these flaws now! office holders should be held more accountable and thoroughly! our anti-graft institutions must work! because from what I’m seeing, the future will be much more worse if nothing is done. No particular party will do us better. Thieves are in all those political parties. Elections can’t solve this issue; national discourse will.
I used to have a lot of respect for this man pass oo,never knew he was such a greedy idiot.why didn’t he go to the grave with all that he has stolen?They steal the birth right of a Nation and criticise the ordinary policeman who takes coins by the roadside
Can we just stop voting for political parties and appoint a few godly people to run the country already, because I’m already tired of reading Sir. John’s will. I just can’t imagine. If this is Sir. John’s will, what will Nana Addo (Agyapa deal (meaning Good father deal) in mind) and Bawumia’s will look like. #Ghana must stop parties politics now PERIOD.
I hope the aburi gardens too are not willed out.
NPP is the most dangerous organisation ever to be formed in the motherland. I hope he is resting well tho! Lord have mercy???
All is Vanity, All these guys will meet the Maker tommorow for Questioning.
What a selfish mindset?
This NPP government is here to destroy the nation for their selfish gain
Wow! That’s a serious fail in leadership. It’s getting worse by the day. Heaven should help us.
Good move bro, you are indeed fighting a good battle for mother Ghana. If Ghana could get 1% of your kind then we will move forward in a positive direction.
Wow, and yet, Nurses have not been posted. National Service Personnel have to wait 4 months to get their first pay. A painful amount of 559.04 cedis MONTHLY. We only know of this one. What of the others undercover. Oh Lord. Our cries fall on deaf ears. It’s not even about working hard anymore.
Which church do sir John attend at all? Don’t worry Nana Addo will still build a cathedral for God…all thanks to Manasseh Awuni,God guide your steps
Dear COVID-19, incase there are leaders with wills just like this or worse, you know what to do, don’t you??
How can we preserve state property? And how can we prevent greedy individuals, from selfishly stealing state property?
Achimota Forest and Sakumono Ramsar site under the threat of greedy b*****ds
If this is really true then democratic governments are vehicles for state looting
I am just shocked
Yes oo.Some people made a wrong choice in an election and chose wrong people: thief’s and greedy people and criminals to rule us. OH Ghana!
Ghana is rich but these people have made us poor. The two things delaying our development is lack of patriotism and corruption.
I wonder how far Abu Janipor has reached with his investigations2 years on and what has he found out? He must publish his findings so the citizens can make informed decisions. Both the Achimota Forest and the Tema Ramsar site have original owners who gave them to Ghana government for the benefit of Ghana. If government no longer has use for them then they must be given back to the original owners! Sir John has no business taking over land given to govt for the benefit of Ghanaians and willing it to his family!!! Both lands must never be allowed to become any individual’s property!!!
Jesus Christ, this is seriously catastrophic
The length of a frog is seen after death.
Sir John mpo ni ooo na wɔn a aka no ɛrh
Hmmmmm????