The Association of Women in Sustainability Professionals (AWSP) has urged the government to use the restoration of the Achimota Forest to its original status as a Forest Reserve as a national model for protecting urban green spaces across the country.
The association said the revocation of Executive Instrument (E.I.) 144, as amended by E.I. 234, was a positive step towards safeguarding Ghana's natural environment, particularly in rapidly expanding urban centres.
Cabinet approved the revocation on June 24, 2026, and the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, announced the decision on July 15, 2026, during the Government Accountability Series at the Presidency.
The decision reverses a 2022 instrument that excised 361.5 acres from the southern section of the Achimota Forest Reserve and returned the land to the Owoo family, identified as the pre-acquisition owners.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the AWSP described the restoration as more than a policy reversal, saying it reflected growing recognition of the role urban forests play in supporting healthy and resilient cities.
The association said the Achimota Forest, which covers more than 1,200 acres, was Accra's largest urban forest and provided an important habitat for more than 200 plant species and over 150 bird species. It added that the forest contributed to improved air quality while helping to reduce the effects of flooding and extreme heat in the capital.
"Unlike productive forests in rural areas where fringing communities may benefit from logging or resource extraction, Achimota Forest is situated in the heart of Accra. Its value lies not in timber or direct economic output, but in the ecological services it provides to the Greater Accra Region and Ghana as a whole," the statement said.
The AWSP said the government's decision should mark the beginning of wider efforts to protect and restore green spaces in other parts of the country.
"Achimota's restoration must inspire a broader rethinking of urban sustainability in Ghana. As cities expand, protecting and restoring green spaces is not optional. It is essential for public health, climate resilience, and national credibility in global sustainability commitments," the statement said.
The association appealed to government agencies, civil society organisations and development partners to build on the decision by strengthening measures to protect urban forests and other environmentally sensitive areas.
It also proposed transparent governance and stronger enforcement to prevent encroachment on forest reserves, restoration measures that prioritise ecological services, inclusive planning involving women, young people and marginalised groups, and the incorporation of forest reserves into urban planning policies.
The President of the AWSP, Dr Thelma Frimpong Mensah, said environmental degradation in urban areas had a greater impact on women because of the health, caregiving and economic burdens they often carried.
She said women should play a leading role in sustainability planning, community engagement and advocacy to support the long-term protection and restoration of the Achimota Forest and other urban green spaces.
