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THE ABURIHENE, Otoobour Djan Kwasi II has accused authorities of the Department of Parks and Gardens, under whose care the Aburi Botanical Gardens operates, of machinating a great plan to ruin the Gardens which has been the preserve of the community for years. Otoobour Djan Kwasi II accused the Parks and Gardens of masterminding the recent felling of trees within the Gardens. He claimed the authorities have been cutting down trees for reasons best known to them and have rather turned round to blame it on the Akwapim South District Chief Executive, Frank Kwadwo Afari-Gyan. The DCE courted controversy after news of the alleged illegal felling of the trees in the Gardens went viral. He was accused of cutting down the trees on some plots of land at the Gardens ostensibly to put up an Assembly Complex for the District at Aburi. So far, about two acres of the forest reserve have been destroyed due to the cutting down of the trees. The incident, which begun early March this year, has incurred the displeasure of members of the public leading to unbridled animosity among the staff at the gardens, District Chief Executive and the entire people of Aburi with some of the indigenes swearing to shed their last drop of blood to reclaim the lands. They chided the DCE and the custodians of the land, led by the Aburihene, for felling down trees within the forest reserve. But speaking in an interview with host Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM's " Kokrokoo", Otoobour Djan Kwasi II debunked claims that he had colluded with the Hon Afari-Gyan to cut down the trees. He however explained that there are inadequate lands at Aburi and as part of their plans to develop Aburi, he apportioned some 30 acres of land within the Gardens for the construction of an Assembly Complex. He further expounded that the Gardens has 155 acres of land and so, it should not be a problem to the residents and Ghanaians if the custodians of the land decides to put a small portion into good use. To him, the construction of the Assembly Complex is in the interest of the people of Aburi but was quick to add that �nobody gave any permission to hew trees and in fact, nobody has felled down any tree�the trees which have even been felled were not at the behest of the DCE. The workers of the Gardens, themselves, cut them down. �Ask them about where they have stocked the logs? They have sold them out. They�re just disgracing the DCE.� According to him, ever since Aburi Botanical Gardens was used for tourism purposes, "no royalty and compensation" has been paid to the Assembly or the custodians of the land thus Aburi has remained underdeveloped. He also stated that his administration called for the assistance of President John Dramani Mahama to cut the sod for the project, which to him will boost the progress of the vicinity, to begin. �It�s true. During the President�s Regional tours, we asked him to cut the sod for us because he passed through Aburi. That was how the contractor and the consultant were informed to carry out the task but the place where they cleared is not even up to 2 acres.� Aburihene therefore warned that �nobody should dare make up the mind to ruin the project" since he will not take kindly to it.�