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Revocation of EI 144 key to protecting state lands- Solomon Owusu urges government
Communications Director of the United Party, Solomon Owusu has welcomed cabinet approval to revoke the sale of state lands without an audit.
He stressed that the move will remain incomplete unless Executive Instrument 144 is also revoked.
Speaking in an interview at TV3 , Solomon Owusu, a land economist by profession, argued that EI 144, also known as the Cessation of Forest Act, opened the door for the transfer of protected forest lands to private interests under questionable circumstances.
He explained that the state began acquiring lands in the early post independence period to support national development, including housing for public sector workers such as teachers, nurses and doctors.
According to him, in the past, public servants posted to new areas were assured of accommodation, unlike today when many are left stranded.
Solomon Owusu linked the current housing challenges faced by public workers to the sale of state lands that were originally meant for government estates.
He accused past state actors of greed, noting that lands acquired for public use have been sold off, leaving the government without space to build essential infrastructure.
On the Achimota Forest, Owusu criticised the decision under EI 144 to release portions of the forest, claiming it was done under the false pretext of returning land to original families who had already been compensated.
He insisted that the lands never truly returned to the families but were instead shared among politically connected individuals.
Owusu praised the recent revocation of LI 2462, which allowed mining in forest reserves, describing it as a positive step.
However, he maintained that revoking EI 144 would demonstrate a stronger commitment to environmental protection and national interest.
He warned that the Achimota Forest remains one of the few green spaces providing clean air in the capital and should be fully protected to preserve its flora and fauna.
He raised concerns about the encroachment of prayer camps and other activities within the forest, blaming weak enforcement by the Forestry Commission for driving away wildlife.
He called on President John Mahama to revoke EI 144, arguing that such a decision would resonate strongly with the public and reflect respect for national heritage and future generations.
With Ghana’s population now exceeding 34 million, he stressed that the state needs land more than ever to support housing, public services and large scale investments.
He further alleged that some state lands have been transferred to politically exposed persons and their associates, citing cases involving prime properties previously belonging to state institutions.
Solomon Owusu questioned how comparative land valuations are sometimes ignored to favour individuals, adding that civil servants at the Lands Commission who facilitate such deals must also be held accountable.
He concluded that state lands belong to all citizens and must be preserved and used strictly for national development rather than private gain.
By: Jacob Aggrey
News
Oxfam in Ghana donates medical equipment and essential drugs worth GH¢1.5 million to Kasoa Polyclinic
Oxfam in Ghana has donated medical equipment and essential drugs worth about GH¢1.5 million to the Kasoa Polyclinic to strengthen maternal and reproductive healthcare services in the municipality.
The presentation, which took place on Tuesday, June 24, 2026, at the premises of the clinic in Kasoa, formed part of the sustainability and legacy activities under the Power to Choose (P2C) Project.
The donated items included delivery beds, maternity beds, oxygen cylinders, neonatal resuscitation equipment, blood pressure monitors, newborn weighing scales, suction machines, delivery kits, essential medicines, medical theatre wear and other critical supplies to support quality healthcare delivery.
The Power to Choose Project is a seven-year initiative being implemented by Oxfam in Ghana in partnership with the Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG), WiLDAF Ghana, SEND Ghana, Norsaac and PARDA, with funding from Global Affairs Canada through Oxfam Quebec.
The project seeks to improve sexual and reproductive health and rights for young people, particularly adolescent girls, young women and young men living in vulnerable and marginalised conditions.
Addressing nurses and management of the hospital, the Country Director for Oxfam in Ghana, Mohammed-Anwar Sadat Adam, said the project, which began in 2021 and will run until early 2028, is being implemented in seven countries across Africa, Latin America and the Middle East.
He said Ghana and the Democratic Republic of Congo are the two African countries benefiting from the project.
Mr. Adam noted that the project has already trained about 102 health workers in areas including youth-friendly services, emergency obstetric and neonatal care, family planning, gender-based violence response, respectful maternity care and inclusive healthcare delivery.
He said Oxfam and its partners conducted assessments at beneficiary facilities and identified equipment needs to help improve healthcare delivery.
According to him, the donation would create safe spaces where young women and girls could seek healthcare services without fear or stigma and would improve health outcomes in the community.
Mr. Adam thanked the Government of Canada, the Ghana Health Service, the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Ghana (SOGOG), World Health Ghana and other partners for supporting the implementation of the project.
He urged the beneficiary facilities to ensure that the equipment is properly used and maintained to serve the community for many years.
A speech by the Municipal Health Director for Awutu Senya East, Dr. Stanley Kweku Yaidoo, which was read on his behalf by the Municipal Accountant, Rev. Dr. Askari Thomas, described the donation as timely and important.
He said quality healthcare delivery depends on manpower, financial resources and equipment, adding that healthcare workers cannot effectively deliver services without the necessary tools.
Dr. Yaidoo thanked Oxfam and its partners for selecting Kasoa as one of the beneficiary facilities and assured them that the equipment would be put to good use.
The Acting Medical Superintendent of Kasoa Polyclinic, Dr. Papa Kojo Arthur, expressed appreciation to Oxfam for its continuous support over the years through training and capacity building.
He said the equipment would greatly support the effective management of patients, particularly in maternal and child healthcare.
According to him, the donation would help reduce maternal and perinatal mortality in the municipality.
The donation formed part of efforts to strengthen the capacity of youth-friendly health facilities in eight implementing districts across five regions of Ghana to continue providing quality and accessible sexual and reproductive healthcare services beyond the lifespan of the project.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts (MoTCCA) has announced that an electronic copy of Ghana’s revised National Cultural Policy is now available online for free access by the public and stakeholders in the creative sector.
In a statement issued on June 22, the ministry said the revised policy was officially launched on June 9, 2026, at the National Theatre of Ghana in Accra.
According to the ministry, the decision to upload the document on its official website is aimed at ensuring widespread dissemination, increasing public awareness and promoting the effective implementation of the policy.
The ministry encouraged sector practitioners, stakeholders and members of the public to visit its website and read the document.
“The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, in the spirit of the Black Star Experience, remains committed to a transparent, inclusive and collaborative approach to building the better Ghana we want,” the statement said.
It added that it looks forward to the active participation of stakeholders in implementing the policy for the benefit of the country.
The ministry urged the public to take advantage of the free access to the policy document and familiarise themselves with its contents.
By: Jacob Aggrey
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