About 200 illegal structures were yesterday
demolished by the Ayawaso West Municipal Assembly at Shiashie in Accra.
The exercise, undertaken by the assembly in
collaboration with the Ghana Police Service, was to pave way for the construction
of a modern lorry park, and a green belt zone to beautify the area.
The exercise which started at about 9am left the
squatters in shock after they had ignored several notices to quit.
The Chief Building Inspector of the assembly, Augustine
Okai, told the Ghanaian Times that
the squatters were last year notified that the area would be transformed into a
lorry park with stores to give the area a facelift.
He said the affected persons ignored the warning, but
were again notified in January this year to vacate the area by February,
however, in spite of the ultimatum, they refused to vacate.
Mr Okai said the Municipal Chief Executive, Madam
Sandra Owusu-Ahenkorah, also held series of meeting with them on the impending
project, but they underestimated the advice, taking it with a pinch of salt.
Not getting any firm response from the squatters, he
said the assembly went round with mobile vans to announce the impending exercise,
“but the squatters seemed not bothered”.
Mr Okai said the contractor had already moved to
site and any delay would be too costly for the assembly, adding that, “we have
no option than to undertake this exercise to give the contractor the free hand
to execute and complete the project on schedule”.
Mr Okai who bemoaned the attitude of the squatters
said the Member of Parliament for the area, Madam Seyram Alhassan, also took
time off her busy schedule to sensitise them, but they refused to heed her counsel,
adding that, “ since they do not have title to the land, the structures would
have to be demolished to fast-track the project”.
BY LAWRENCE VOMAFA-AKPALU
Pix:
Contact AKPALU
Credit: Source link
