Following the government's re-allocation of portions of the Achimota Forest to allodial owners, the Owoo family, it has been reported that late Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie (Sir John), the former Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission, also owned parts of the forest.

Mr Owusu Afriyie, the former general secretary of the New Patriotic Party, reportedly acquired over 6.528 hectares of land at the Achimota Forest, according to what appears to be his will, as shared by the Fourth Estate.

According to the will, these parcels of land were passed down to family members of the late Forestry Commission CEO.

Many people are surprised by this revelation, given that the Lands Commission had previously stated that, aside from portions owned by the Owoo family, all remaining acres would be redeveloped by the state.

In a statement, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Samuel Abu Jinapor said that as part of an initial investigation to determine the truth of the claims, the Ministry has requested all papers relating to the lands in the alleged Will.

Up until his death on July 1, 2020, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie was the CEO of the Forestry Commission. Mr Afriyie took over as CEO of the Commission from Mr Samuel Afari Dartey in 2017.

Below is the list of properties purportedly owned by Sir John according to alleged Will.

Houses

A house located at Ogbojo East Legon with land title certificate number GA 54480 dated February 12, 2018

A house at Oyarifa (Oyarifa No. 2) with land title certificate number GA 54480 dated February 12, 2018.

A house at Oyarifa (Oyarifa No. 1) with land title certificate number GA 53475 dated September 27, 2017.

A house located at Adjiringanor (White House) with land title certificate number GA 58881 dated August 7, 2019

A six bedroom house with an outhouse located at Patangbe Avenue, Ogbojo, Accra.

Four bedroom house with an outhouse and a security post at Ogbojo, Accra with land title certificate number TDA 4140 dated July 3, 2019.

Two three bedroom houses (detached) on a plot of land at Mempeheusem, East Legon with land title certificate number GA 56838 dated October 25, 2018.

Four bedroom house together with the adjoining boys quarters and it's security post located at Sakora Wonoo in the Kwabere District of the Ashanti Region

Five bedroom house located at Sokoban, Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.

A four storey building at East Legon which contains ten 3 bedroom apartments and 5 two bedroom apartments.

A house located at East Legon Hills.

A house at Otinshi.

Hospitals

A hospital called Afriyie Memorial Hospital located at Sakora Wonoo in the Kwabere District of the Ashanti Region.

Plots of land

Two plots of land situate at Ahenema Kokoben in the Ashanti Region

Two plots of land at Oyarifa in the Greater Accra Region with land title certificate number GA 56921 dated November 6, 2018.

A land situate at the Achimota Forest in the name of Jakaypro Limited measuring 5.54q acres

A land at the Achimota Forest in the name of Fasoh Limited measuring 0.987 acres

A piece of land owned at Achimota Forest with Charles Owusu.

A portion of land jointly owned at the Achimota Forest in the name of DML Limited

A land situated at Ramsar area at Sakumono in the Greater Accra Region measuring 5.07acres.

Five plots of land located within the Millenium City Estates, near Kasoa.

I own a plot of land at Mempeheusem, East Legon register with certificate number ()

60802 dated December 13, 2019.

Two plots of land containing an approximate area of 0.16 hectares or 0.40 acres situate at No. 7 ARS Lane, Ogbojo, East Legon.

A plot of land near Chain Homes Estates, East Airport Hills, Accra.

A piece of land numbered plot number 139 within the Adentanman Business District (aka Aviation Land).

Businesses

A fuel station at Kentinkronu, Kumasi.

A fuel tanker business with 10 petrol tanker vehicles.

One compartment of teak plantation at Nkawie in the Ashanti Region.

A rubber plantation in the Eastern Region sharing a common boundary with the plantation of Mr Edward Obiaw formerly of the Forestry Commission.

Farms at Ejura in the Ashanti Region

Private Vehicles

Lexus LX570 V8, Ford Fusion, Lexus V6.

Nissan Titan Pick-up V8, Mercedes Benz E63 sport AMG

Honda Pilot V6

Honda Accord Sport, Toyota Land cruiser V8

Ford F150, Honda Accord 2.0 Touring, Toyota RAV 4 2019 model, Chevrolet Crusze, Lexus saloon car 2019 model

Guns

Five pump action guns.

Investment

GH2million at Agricultural Development Bank (ADB).

GH250, 000 with NTHC.

Joint Gold production investment with Mr Francis Owusu

Joint ownership in Gold production with Rod, Fasoh, MBL

Three stalls at the New Kejetia Market.

Source: The Independent Ghana