![\"accraechopark\"](\"http:\/\/citifmonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/accraechopark.png\")
<\/p>\nThe Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng has expressed some opposition\u00a0to the existing plan to convert part of the Achimota Forest Reserve into an Eco-Park.<\/p>\n
The facility is expected to have eco-lodges, fencing, veterinary, camping sites, watering points, viewing platforms, a restaurant, suspended walkways, among others.<\/p>\n
The Mahama government, which cut the sod for the redevelopment of the forest reserve in 2016, said the\u00a0establishment of the eco-tourism park, the Accra Eco Park, would create about 4000 jobs during the construction and more than 2,000 direct and 10,000 indirect jobs during the operational phase.<\/p>\n
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The government also projected that, over about a 10-year period, government will receive revenue amounting to about $186 million as corporate tax and about $18 million in social security payment.<\/p>\n
But Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng believes the Achimota Forrest should remain as it is with eco-tourism efforts directed elsewhere.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy personal opinion is that it should remain a forest. I will go further to say that there are all sorts of encroachment from religious organisations. A lot of churches have been built and temporary structures are there. I think they should all come down.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhoever wants to eco-tourism can go to the Atiwa Forrest or the Kakum Park\u2026 if you have the Achimota forest, that is fine. The Achimota forest should be reserved as a forest,\u201d the Minister stated.<\/p>\n
The 495-hectare Achimota Forest Reserve was created by the Gold Coast colonial government for recreational and environmental conservation purposes.<\/p>\n
–<\/p>\n
By: Delali Adogla-Bessa\/citifmonline.com\/Ghana<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng has expressed some opposition\u00a0to the existing plan to convert part of the Achimota Forest Reserve into an Eco-Park. The facility is expected to have eco-lodges, fencing, veterinary, camping sites, watering points, viewing platforms, a restaurant, suspended walkways, among others. The Mahama government, which cut the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5],"tags":[4985,275,3],"yoast_head":"\n