News
Akamas works to restart in 2027 as auditors find almost no supervision
The agriculture minister told a House committee that phase one should be finished by February 2028. The Audit Office says the project lacked oversight, and the attorney-general is examining possible criminal offences.
Construction work on the Akamas National Forest Park is expected to restart in early 2027, with the first phase targeted for completion by February 2028, Agriculture Minister Christos Senekis told the House audit committee on Thursday.
Senekis said revised plans for phase one had been approved and the tender would be launched before the end of 2026. The redesign cuts the number of visitor service hubs from 14 to eight, which the government says reduces the project’s environmental footprint. The project has also been approved for the Thalia 2021-2027 programme, which brings additional financial scrutiny.
The minister said the state and the original contractor had settled their mutual claims amicably, with the attorney-general’s office involved and the finance ministry’s approval, and that both sides had withdrawn their claims. He said the Forestry Department had closed about 80 per cent of illegal access routes in the area. Court proceedings over unauthorised construction are still pending.
What the audit found
The hearing discussed a special report by the Audit Office on whether the planning and construction of the works protected the area. Auditor-General Andreas Papaconstantinou said its general conclusion was that there was “almost no supervision at all” at the various stages of implementation.
He said the Audit Office had asked for the administrative investigations ordered after work was suspended in 2023, but the agriculture ministry did not provide them, so the office carried out its own inquiry.
The report identified weaknesses in environmental impact assessments, differences between construction plans and environmental conditions, deviations during implementation and failures to meet other environmental requirements. It put the original contract at €6.295 million plus VAT. By the time work stopped in December 2023, 17.67 per cent of the work had been done and 94 per cent of the contract period had passed.
Papaconstantinou also said the state struggled to enforce the law against illegal development. He cited unauthorised restaurants and buildings found during inspections and a private concert held in the protected area, saying even temporary installations sent the wrong message.
A representative of the attorney-general’s office told the committee that the audit findings were being examined to decide whether there were grounds to investigate possible criminal offences.
What is not known
The tender has not been launched, so the start date depends on procurement. The final cost of the revised phase has not been announced. The attorney-general’s office has not said whether it will open a criminal investigation.
Why it matters
Akamas is a protected peninsula in Paphos district, and the Audit Office describes it as an area of exceptional environmental value. The project is meant to control access and protect the park, but its first attempt became a case of weak supervision of public works. For residents and visitors, the practical test will be how the park is managed once work resumes, not only the date on the timetable.
Sources (3)
- Cyprus Mail, Akamas works to resume in 2027, 5 November 2026 . Reports the minister's timetable, the revised plans and the Audit Office findings presented to the House audit committee.
- Sigmalive, Ακάμας: Επανεκκινούν τα έργα, 5 November 2026 . Greek-language report confirming the tender timetable, the reduction in service hubs and the audit criticism.
- Audit Office, Special report on Akamas, October 2026 (PDF as published by Dialogos) . Primary report text with the contract value, completion rate, environmental findings and referral to the attorney-general.