The La Nkwantanang Municipal Assembly has demolished unauthorised structures at Madina Redco Junction as part of a broader decongestion and sanitation drive.

The exercise, which took place on Friday, September 12, 2025, was led by Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) Ibrahim Faila Fuseini, with support from the Assembly’s task force, police officers, and military personnel.

Containers, kiosks, and other makeshift structures sited on unauthorised locations were pulled down to improve movement and restore order in the busy area.

Some affected individuals expressed frustration and shock, telling Adom News’ Prince Owusu-Asiedu that they were not prepared for the demolition.

After the operation, the MCE declared Redco Junction a security zone and warned that no new structures would be allowed in the area.

Mr. Fuseini emphasised the Assembly’s commitment to sustaining order and cleanliness.

Source: Adomonline

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The operation, carried out by some unknown individuals in the wee hours of Monday, saw several shops and other structures on a parcel of land at Krofrom-Columbia razed down.

Goods and personal belongings of the traders worth thousands of cedis have been destroyed as the traders attempted salvaging the few left unharmed.

“They demolished the shops, destroying our personal belongings and goods,” one of the affected traders said.

Although some of the traders lamented no official notice was served, others admitted they had been verbally warned two weeks earlier by unidentified persons who claimed the land had been sold.

The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has since distanced itself from the exercise, insisting it had not authorized the demolition.

Public Relations Officer at the assembly, Henrietta Afia Konadu Aboagye, revealed that the landowner had obtained a permit to develop the land, but did not follow due process to evacuate the traders.

She assured of the assembly’s intervention to have the traders compensated if they formally pursued the matter against the private developer.

“If the traders come together and present their case, the assembly will invite the developer for discussions, and compensation will be made for anything destroyed in the process,” Afia Konadu Aboagye advised.

The traders claim they are using their own resources to redevelop the dilapidated buildings and have urged the mayor to allocate his funds to other projects.

The mayor had set July 31st as a deadline for the demolition, deeming the traders’ rebuilding efforts “illegal and non-technical.”

“I don’t know the reason why some people want to lose money twice, with whatever they do I will pull it down and rebuild it, so any time they close they should go along with their items because they will come one day and see it down,” said Mr. Boadi.

However, the traders argue that if the government were to rebuild, the stores would likely be allocated based on political considerations, rather than being returned to their rightful owners.

One of the traders, Prince Owusu, expressed frustration, stating that the contractor is nearing completion of the rehabilitation work.

“We should allow you to come and build it within three years to delay our business, it’s impossible,” he claimed.

The traders claimed that the support from philanthropists and contributions from affected individuals are the source of funding for the rebuilding.

The fire incident occurred on March 21, 2025, destroying three-story buildings and hundreds of shops.

Despite the challenges, business has started to bounce back, with some shop owners rebuilding their stores.

Culverts are being constructed to prevent flooding in the rainy season.

The threats follow a failed attempt by the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) to demolish the slum structures under GRIDCO pylons last week, which was halted due to logistical constraints. The illegal occupants accuse school authorities of pressuring the RCC to carry out the demolition.

Earlier, the RCC had marked the illegally constructed wooden shelters beneath the power pylons for demolition by June 2, 2025.

However, after the demolition notice expired, the authorities reportedly attempted to enforce the order, prompting the violent threats.

Abdulraheem Mohammed, Secretary of the Haqqul Mubeen Institute (a stakeholder in the school’s PTA), confirmed that the threats were issued in retaliation against the demolition efforts.

“The equipment to be used for the demolition also delayed so they couldn’t complete the activity. We also learnt that some political forces came in and stopped the work,” he said.

Mr. Mohammed added, “The slum dwellers gathered in front of the school and started issuing threats, claiming the school has instigated the demolition of the slum. They said they will attack the staff and students.”

According to authorities, police intervention was required to restore calm and prevent the slum dwellers from carrying out their threats against the students.

Located a safe distance from the pylons is the Ghana Lebanon Islamic Secondary School, which has operated for about two decades.

Authorities report that a series of armed robbery incidents have occurred at the school since the slum emerged.

Mr. Mohammed expressed concern about the illegal activities taking place in the slum.

“Somewhere last week, there was an altercation between some of the people in the slum and it resulted in gunshots. If it has gotten to an extent that these people can use guns in this area, then the school and the environs are not safe,” he emphasised.

Over the years, demolition attempts targeting the illegal structures in the area have consistently failed.

Several months ago, a devastating fire swept through the slum – an incident many believed would mark its end. However, the settlement persisted.

Following the June 5, 2024, fire outbreak, the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) issued warnings and banned construction beneath its power pylons. Yet these measures have produced minimal results.

The Haqqul Mubeen Institute continues to pressure the government to take decisive action against these unlawful activities.

It follows structural integrity assessments of the structures by the KMA, which recommended their immediate demolition to bring life back to the market.

Refuting claims of ordering the release of some impounded excavators, Kumasi city mayor, Richard Boadi explained the excavators were intended for the demolition exercise.

The buildings, including one owed by the KMA and two other private developers, are expected to be pulled down in the coming days.

“Yesterday, we were going to use the excavators for the demolition exercise. But it back fired. If we had carried through with the exercise everything at the site would have been gone by now. We had planned to go there by 7 pm we start to demolish and by 4 am we will be done, and then start clearing the debris by morning. We have to demolish them but it would come at a bigger cost that where I am worried,” the mayor told David Akuetteh on Luv FM.

While the assembly works to reconstruct the market, some traders continue to erect structures on the land as they claim to be protecting their space from being taken over by the assembly.

The city mayor however indicated the assembly’s readies to support the traders to reconstruct the market under its technical supervision, stating that the KMA is financially constrained to absorb costs for the reconstruction of the site.

“If I am to say that KMA is going to look for resource to reconstruct that building we will get to the same status of Krofrom,” he said.

Meanwhile, the KMA is considering the conversion of some streets within the Central Business District of Adum into a temporary trading centre for the affected traders of the Adum Blue Light inferno.

Mr. Boadi explained the assembly will be meeting with local authorities for a possible conversion of at least two routes into a trading centre.

“We will be meeting the assembly to make some streets redundant for the trading activities,” he said.

On Wednesday, the workers served an ultimatum to a private developer and stakeholders involved in the demolition of their property Ridge residential area in Kumasi to halt the exercise or they will be forced to cut water supply.

But Joy News checks have revealed the land was used as collateral for private developers tasked to construct bungalows for government agencies who were affected by the retainment of about four hundred acres of land by the Asantehene.

Vice Chair of the Senior Staff Association of Ghana Water Limited in Ashanti, Emmanuel Okpoti in an interview with JoyNews’ Emmanuel Bright Quaicoe said the temporary shutdown will affect every part of the region.

“We are shutting operations to the whole of Ashanti region. Until they heed to our demands, we are not resuming operations,” he said.

According to Mr. Okpoti, the said facilities in contention is located on a high elevation and holds some vital components for water distribution.

He explains the handing the space to be overtaken by the private developer could affect water distribution to parts of the metropolis.

“It means that they are just going to take away our facilities. How can we supply water when we don’t have the opportunity to expand. Because high elevations are important for water supply. They provide avenues to water flow. So that we can use that one to augment our flow within the region,” he said.

Joy News investigations have revealed the acre of land on which the old bungalow sits is captured under 400 acres of land ceded to the Asantehene, which came with a planned relocation.

Further checks at the Lands Commission show the Ghana Water Company is unable to show proof of ownership to the property.

Disgruntled workers of the Ghana Water Limited in the Ashanti region draped in red headgear and armbands vented their displeasure at what they describe as “unlawful” demolition of property occupied by their top management.

Walls and other structures at the residences of the company’s regional managers have been pulled down and two bungalows reduced to rubbles.

Surrounding lands have also been cleared and are expected to be re-developed with five other residences marked for demolition by an alleged private developer.

Vice Chair of the Senior Staff Association of the Ghana Water Limited in Ashanti, Emmanuel Okpoti Kodiah spoke to the media during an inspection of the demolished properties.

“Recently, we witnessed the unnecessary demolition of two Directors’ fence walls of their Bungalows and Boys quarters, which raises serious questions about the procedures and respect that should govern our operations. These properties are not merely structures; they represent the hard work, dedication, and commitment of our leadership to this organization,” he said.

But JoyNews checks have revealed occupants of two hundred bungalows on the four hundred acres of land retained by the Asantehene were to be relocated into newly constructed ones.

According to the sources, the land was retained by the traditional authority due to the colonial government’s failure to compensate for eight hundred acres of land.

In a letter written to affected public agencies, the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council communicated a Public-Private Partnership agreement to replace the affected bungalows.

But the aggrieved water company staff have denied knowledge of the allocation of three completed bungalows to replace the ones earmarked for demolition, though letters have been served to that effect.

“Let us put on record that under no circumstances or occasion has the region received any communication from Head Office to cede the lands to the developers in question. Communication from the Regional Coordinating Council to the region was asked to be communicated to its Head Office, which they did. This procedure clearly shows that they know what ought to have to be done,” said Emmanuel Okpoti Kodiah.

Some heads of other government agencies have picked up keys to their completed bungalows from the Regional Coordinating Council.

But the Ghana Water Company has refused the keys to the completed bungalows, threatening a withdrawal of services within the next 48-hours if the vandalized properties are not restored.

“GWL as a company is therefore giving private developers a 48-hour ultimatum to reconstruct the walls and restore all other destroyed properties. Failure to do that will mean that GWL has no relevance in the Ashanti Region and as a matter of that will shut down its operations in the Ashanti Region at exactly 9 am on Friday,” he said.

The decision comes amidst escalating tensions and perceived security risks associated with the traders’ operations within the market.

On Monday, April 22, authorities took decisive action by demolishing hundreds of sheds at the bustling Kwadaso market, prompting a flurry of activity as traders rushed to salvage their belongings.

The sudden demolition caught many traders off guard, leaving them scrambling to salvage their goods and protect their livelihoods.

However, the abrupt nature of the demolition and subsequent arrests has sparked outrage among the affected traders, who feel aggrieved by the manner in which the situation was handled.

One of the traders who could not control her temper, reportedly invoked curses on the Municipal Chief Executive Officer (MCE), Richmond Agyenim Boateng.

The trader was arrested by the police for the conduct.

The Council also attributed a recent accident resulting in the death of a 45-year-old woman to the activities of the traders.

Although the traders were given April 21, 2024, to move to the new area at Atwima Takyiman, the majority of them were reluctant to relocate.

Armed police and military officers were deployed to the market to oversee the forced relocation of the traders and the demolition of the market.

According to him, there are about 5,000 structures on government lands in the last 30 years, that have evaded property taxes for several years because they have no documents.

However, due to the position of the law, such persons cannot be evicted with their structures demolished.

 “I’ve heard people talk about legalising the illegality. Let’s be very realistic here. Some people have encroached on government lands and they have built and lived in their homes for over 30 years. There is a law that states that though they have encroached upon it and they have lived on it continuously for 30 years, indirectly, it’s like you’ve given them possession.

“So going to court now and to demolish all 5,000 houses, which judge in this country will grant a request for you to go and demolish 5,000 houses in this modern age?” he quizzed on Accra-based Neat FM.

He continued that “That’s why when it starts, I do the demolition before it’s too late. And these 5,000 houses because they do not have land documents, have not contributed their quota in terms of paying property rate to government but meanwhile, they are enjoying utilities.”

Addressing an upcoming demolition exercise in Accra, he said it was a crucial step towards recovering state lands.

“The minister for works and housing is doing his job. As the rains have begun, they have to put measures in place to curb flooding. I know he has given directives to be followed and I believe they are going to work in collaboration with state agencies to make that happen.

“I carry out demolition exercises on encroached state lands. I take my time to hold broader and wider stakeholder engagement,” he said.

Mr Quartey added that lands recovered will be given to state agents.

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About 785 buildings will be demolished in the La Dade-Kotopon Municipal Assembly as part of efforts by government to clear edifices that hinder the free flow of rainwater in drainage channels, thereby causing floods.

The Minister for Works and Housing, Francis Asenso-Boakye, has stated that while government is determined to build communities that can withstand and reduce the incidence of flooding especially in Accra, certain human activities have hugely hindered these efforts.

Speaking on Adom TV’s Badwam Show, he explained that when two or more politicians build on government lands and waterways, civilians follow suit.  

“We politicians are to blame, both NDC and NPP. Because at the moment if a politician in opposition sees any land and is interested to buy, he sees another politician in power to help in the negotiation process and vice versa.

“So that’s how come we encourage other citizens to build on government lands and waterways. The last time I went to check a land and I realized it was government land, the owner pleaded with me and when I asked why he said because we are in power, when I build others will join,” he said.

He insisted that about 40% of the 785 buildings earmarked for demolition in Accra are owned by government officials.

“So when they [citizens] see two or three politicians building, they will also build. Go to Ramsar, politicians have built all over. But if you have a former speaker’s house at Ramsar site, won’t it encourage you to build there?” he quizzed.

“This 785 buildings to be demolished, I can tell you in absolute confidence that about 40% of them are owned by politicians.”

He opined that proper regularisation of lands and proper conduct by politicians will help curb the situation.

“That’s the problem. If we don’t take bold steps, we will have such problems all the time. So for me, I think there should be a proper regularization of our lands and until we do that wash our hands off it as politicians, I can honestly tell you that we will continue to be having this problem.”

About 785 buildings will be demolished in the La Dade-Kotopon Municipal Assembly as part of efforts by government to clear edifices that hinder the free flow of rainwater in drainage channels, thereby causing floods.

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Addressing the press on issues of flooding ahead of the rainy season on 17^th April 2023, the Minister for Works and Housing, Francis Asenso-Boakye (MP), disclosed that the Assembly is currently working on the necessary logistics to undertake the assignment.

The sector minister observed that while government is determined to build communities that can withstand and reduce the incidence of flooding especially in Accra, certain human activities have hugely hindered these efforts.

The demolition was carried out by the Ayawaso East Municipal Assembly (AEMA), led by the police.

The move is to clear “the illegal occupants” of the land, which is sandwiched between the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI) and the Nima-Maamobi Community Library, close to the National Mosque.

Eyewitnesses said the exercise started at dawn when the residents of the area were still asleep. 

When Graphic Online got to the area around 8:30 am, about 200 structures, including motor repair shops, containers and food vending facilities, had been reduced to rubble.

Victims of the demolition exercise, including women with babies strapped to their backs, were seen trying to salvage some items from the rubble.

Armed police officers numbering over 30, were seen providing security.

An eye-witness, Rafik Seidu, told Graphic Online that the demolition exercise started around 5:30 am.

“I went to the mosque to pray, and when I finished and came out I saw people running out of their rooms. Some of them had towels around their waist and others wore only shorts because they were still sleeping when the demolition started,” he said. 

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“Some people said they want to clear the area and use it for a police station, but I do not know if that is true,” he added.

No comment from ASMA

It is not clear what the purpose of the demolition exercise was as the AEMA failed to speak to Graphic Online. 

The residents of the area gave three different accounts for the demolition. 

Some of the residents of the area said the land had been sold to a church so they were being ejected to pave the way for the church to develop the land.

Others said it was being cleared to be used for a police station while another group said the structures were being cleared because of the National Mosque. 

However, efforts made to get clarification from the AEMA were fruitless as the officials remained tight-lipped.

The assembly had given an ultimatum for the residents to relocate to pave way for the demolition and subsequent developmental works in the area.

They took to the streets clad in red attire wielding placards and banners to drum home their demands.

Some placards had inscriptions such as; No compensation no demolition, we are losing our livelihoods, we are not squatters among others.

The Assemblyman for the area, Wisdom Boateng, in an interview indicated the protest is the only option left as several letters written to the assembly has yielded no results.

They marched from the Maamobi market to the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange and converged at a point where a government representative is expected to accept their petition.

The residents have for months now been calling on the assembly to extend its August 28 deadline.

The disgruntled residents have lamented the deadline is too short and threatens their livelihoods while others indicated they have nowhere to go.

“The deadline is too short and we will beg them to give us up to a year and we will peacefully move,” a protester said.

Residents of Maamobi Polyclinic and its environs in the Ayawaso North Municipality have vowed to protest any decision by the government to demolish their buildings.

The assembly had given an ultimatum for the residents to relocate to pave way for the demolition and subsequent developmental works in the area.

However, the disgruntled residents have lamented the deadline is too short and will soon hit the streets should the government decide to demolish the structures.

Speaking to Adom News‘ Prince Owusu, the Assemblyman for the area, Wisdom Boateng, indicated they will write to the police in the coming days to secure a permit for their demonstration.

A resident stated: “We understand this is a state land and we cannot fight with the government but the period is too short for us.”

Another questioned, “Why would Akufo-Addo want to demolish the area when former presidents; Rawlings, Atta Mills and Mahama made no move to evict us because they acknowledged we are Ghanaians?”

Meanwhile, Mr Boateng has urged cool heads among the residents as authorities and stakeholders have met at the Chief Imoro Social Centre at Kawkudi for a resolution to the matter.

Play the audio above:

The building was allegedly razed by a group of armed men at dawn, an act the lawmaker has described as a lawless, provocative and mafia-style operation.

In a Facebook post to vent his anger, Mr Ablakwa, who is also the Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, added that the exercise was an aggressively mindless attack.

“Documents I have reviewed and some of which I would attach to this publication reveal how helpless the Foreign Ministry and the Lands Commission appear to be in this matter even after they have confirmed with incontrovertible evidence that the Bulgarians have a valid lease for a term of 50 years since 1983,” he stated.

In his view, it is usually considered a declaration of war.

According to him, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Caucus in Parliament shall be demanding a full public parliamentary probe into the demolished building with the view to identifying all the conspirators and bringing them to justice.

“We shall not allow the shadowy characters behind this hideous act to enjoy the comfort and security of anonymity; we shall smoke them and their collaborators out, and ensure that never again would a few greedy bandits damage our hitherto high diplomatic reputation,” he vowed.

Though the reason for the demolition is unclear, it comes barely two years after a similar exercise against the Nigerian High Commissioner’s residence in Accra.

The building, which was being constructed to house staff and visiting diplomats to the High Commission, was demolished with bulldozers in March 2020.

Read Mr Ablakwa’s full post below:

One person has reportedly been shot dead with another in critical condition after a group of irate youth clashed with the police at the Kotobabi market near Spintex.

The incident occurred on Wednesday after the security personnel stormed the area to enforce a reclamation exercise by the Tema West Municipal Assembly.

However, squatters in the area resisted, creating a chaotic scene.

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Anna Adukwei Addo, explained the group, numbering over 70, attacked the team while all attempts to maintain order proved futile.

A reinforcement team is said to have been called in to augment the efforts of the police as tempers were still high.

Meanwhile, some persons suspected to have been part of the attack have been arrested pending further action.

This comes on the back of a similar exercise in November.

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The slum, which is some 30 metres from the Ecobank Junction, had for years been seen as a hub of the operations of alleged drug peddlers and syndicates of prostitution gangs and armed robbery.

The exercise followed what the assembly said were the health hazards the squatters and residents of the area were exposed to during a recent fire outbreak in the slum, which destroyed some of the makeshift homes.

The demolition was carried out by a joint task force of police and officials from various Municipal and District Assemblies in Accra.

The woman had declined to speak to the media prior to her food joint being brought down.

Some persons around who were obviously worried and calling out her name attempted to resuscitate her before sending her to the hospital in a car, while some task force members were seen videoing the incident.

The operation followed warnings from the government to encroachers around the water body.

“We had no option but to use minimum force,” the task force leader, Mohammed Aminu Zakaria, said to Citi News.

The demolition exercise is expected to span some 500 metres around the lagoon.

Mr. Zakaria also said he expected the task force to sustain its protection of the land around the lagoon.

“We have a special arrangement with our employers, that whoever does not perform will be booted out. It looks as if this exercise will not be a nine-day wonder. We will be on our toes and be working,” he assured.

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According to him, the exercise will also include the Sodom and Gomorrah enclave.

Mr Quartey, who is also the Member of Parliament for Ayawaso Central, disclosed this on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen but did not state the timelines.

He stated his outfit will soon engage the traders and their leadership to ensure a smooth transition.

This, he explained, has become necessary following some lessons taken from the exercise at the Agbogloshie market.

“We want to ensure that before they are even relocated, the issue of washrooms, mosques amongst others does not arise. So those things will be put in place before they move so we can clear the entire place,” he stated.

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In July 2021, onion sellers were relocated from Agbogbloshie to the Ga West Municipality’s Adjen Kotoku Market.

This was done as part of a plan to decongest the capital.

Despite initial resistance, the traders showered praises on President Nana Akufo-Addo when he visited them on October 21, 2021, for ensuring and facilitating their smooth and convenient relocation to Adjen Kotoku.

According to their Spokesperson, Osman Mohammed Seil, the assurances of their security and ready-market are what they are witnessing today, and believed that the Adjen Kotoku Onion Market has the potential of becoming the number one onion market in West Africa.

Residents were given a September 30, 2021 deadline, to vacate the area to pave way for demolition and redevelopment.

The announcement was met with fierce resistance by the residents over claims that no provisions have been made for them.

But speaking in an interview on Accra-based Citi FM, the Executive Secretary of the Refugee Board, Tetteh Padi, said the suspension is to afford residents adequate time to prepare for the relocation.

“The government is sensitive to the plight of refugees so the actual demolition has been put on hold while we give them time to make alternate arrangements for shelter,” he announced.

Meanwhile, the Gomoa East District Chief Executive, Solomon Darko-Quarm, has explained that the demolition of the camp was in response to a request by the Gomoa Fetteh chiefs.

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This, he said, was due to the increasing criminal acts in the Gomoa area, with the camp being turned into an abode for suspected criminals.

Mr Quarm stressed the camp had outlived its usefulness, hence the call from the chiefs was a step in the right direction.

According to him, they expect the residents to vacate willingly to pave way for the redevelopment of the area.

The Assembly on August 3 served an eviction notice which expires today, Thursday, September 30, 2021, but has been met with fierce resistance from some residents.

Some angry residents, clad in red, on Wednesday besieged the Gomoa Budumburam Police Station to demand a halt to the demolition exercise during which four people were arrested.

Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Mr Quarm cautioned there will be no extension beyond the date communicate earlier neither will the planned demolition be suspended.

“The camp was a dormitory for refugees but it has now outlived its usefulness. We gave out the land and now we want our land back for other activities and that shouldn’t be too much to ask. They can move to any part of Ghana to continue their engagement,” he said.

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A Sierra Leonean, who also spoke on the show, said the demolition was shameful especially when President Nana Akufo-Addo is the Chairman of ECOWAS and no provisions have been made for the evictees.

But, reacting to the comments, Mr Quarm said any resident who decides to stay or resist the exercise does so at his/her own risk.

The camp was opened by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in 1990 to serve as a home to more than 12,000 refugees from Liberia who fled their country during the First Liberian Civil War (1989–1996) and the Second Liberian Civil War (1999–2003).

The UNHCR, that provided the settlement’s residents with individual aid and relief, began pulling out of the camp in April 2007, slowly withdrawing all UNHCR-administered services.

Also resident in the camp were nationals of Sierra Leone who escaped from their civil war fought between 1991 and 2002.

The District Chief Executive, Solomon Darko-Quarm, on Tuesday served a notice asking the residents to vacate the Camp by September 30, 2021.

The decision to evict the residents, according to the DCE, was taken at a District Security Council (DISEC) meeting held on August 3, 2021.

The chiefs in May 2021 called for the immediate demolition of the camp which they said had become a hub for criminals.

Reacting to the development on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem, the Gomoa Fetteh Mankrado, Nana Kwasi Quansah, said it was a step in the right direction.

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He lamented the place, which serves as an abode for refugees, has now been taken over by criminals who are terrorising residents.

Nana Quansah maintained that the camp has outlived its usefulness, hence, the calls for the demolition to make way for other projects.

He explained they have plans of redeveloping the area into markets, schools, and other social amenities for the benefit of the residents.

The exercise, carried out on Wednesday by the taskforce of the Assembly, was supported by a detachment from the Accra Regional Police Command.

It lasted for over five hours and saw the removal of wooden shacks serving as abodes for some squatters who had constructed washrooms and kiosks among others.

According to Gilbert Nii Ankrah, Head of Public Affairs at the AMA, who was present at the scene, the beachfront stretch opposite the Fire Service Training School, popularly called Dogo Beach, was to serve as a temporary fishing bay for the activities of fisherfolk who were relocated for the construction of the Jamestown Fishing Harbour.

He explained that a lot of unauthorised structures had sprung up at the site contrary to the agreed plan preceding the relocation of the fisherfolk at Jamestown to pave way for the construction of the new fishing harbour, hence the exercise. 

He noted that the fisherfolk occupying the temporal site would be relocated to the new Jamestown fishing harbour after completion. 

The Chief Fisherman of the Fisherfolk of Jamestown, Joseph Armah, said since the site was allocated to them as a temporary fishing bay, other squatters have joined over the period, therefore, increasing the numbers on the site which have resulted in the pollution of the ocean.

He expressed appreciation to the Assembly for undertaking the exercise and assured that they would police the site to prevent encroachment.

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The Jamestown Fishing Harbour Project include the dredging of about  100,000 cubic meter harbour basin and construction of hydraulic structures about 1,251 meters.

Others are the construction area of management (office buildings, trading markets, cold storage, processing areas, commercial areas and other production and supporting facilities making up 12,644.11 cubic meters which had been under construction since August last year and are expected to be completed in 30 months. 

In a related development, the AMA taskforce has pulled down an unapproved structure serving as a worship centre on a public walkway around the St. Mary’s Senior High School at Korlegonno.

The demolition came after traders issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) to pull down the structure.

They alleged that the market gets flooded whenever there was a downpour due to the presence of the building.

The demolition of the building was reportedly ordered by the Minister for Works and Housing, Francis Asenso Boakye.

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“We are very happy; the building becomes a hindrance to our progress anytime it rains,” a trader said.

“Most of us have lost a lot of our properties. We are grateful to the government for the demolition of this building,” she added.

The exercise took place on Thursday, May 27, 2021.

This comes on the back of a similar exercise which saw the demolition of illegal structures along the Graphic Road in Accra.

This forms part of the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey’s ‘Let’s make Accra Work’ agenda which seeks to ensure the free flow of traffic and keep the city clean.

All these interventions are to ensure the attainment of the objective of the Akufo-Addo-led government to make Accra the cleanest city in West Africa.

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Mr Quartey, who is also the Ayawaso Central Member of Parliament, has already noted that although he is aware that measures being taken by his outfit to decongest the city will be greeted with lots of criticisms and backlash, tackling the issue of sanitation in Ghana remains a priority to him.

The facility, which has been earmarked for a washing bay, has been under construction since 2020, restricting the free flow of water in the community.

During a visit to the site by the Minister and a joint team of police and NADMO officials, he ordered authorities to ensure the structure is demolished by Wednesday to prevent flooding in the area.

“The Engineer has said he has not authorised this structure to be here. I do not have a problem when people are building but especially with the rains about to set in, we cannot allow these things to go on. NADMO, you will get the machines, National Security will assist you, and it has to go down,” he ordered.

Meanwhile, the Municipal Engineer of the Tema West Assembly, Vincent Blah Quarshie, said several attempts to halt the construction of the washing bay have proved futile.

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The Tema Metropolitan Director of NADMO recently recommended the demolition of unauthorised structures around the Tema Community Seven Post Office because of the risk they pose to life and property.

The Tema NADMO Regional Director stated that the structures were constructed indiscriminately to obstruct the free flow of water.

NADMO urged the Tema city authorities to pull down the structures to avert a possible disaster in the future.

Big and small shops were all leveled when the Ghana News Agency visited the Square, Monday noon.

Mr Kwadwo Wiafe, an electrical shop owner, said they were not informed about any such exercise.

“We just came here this morning to find our shops destroyed and till now we don’t know those who are behind it,” he said.

Mr Wiafe appealed to government to intervene and investigate the incident.

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Mr Hassan Mubarak, another trader who had his shop razed, said he suspected the demolition was done to evacuate them from the area.

The GNA gathered that the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) is investigating the occurrence.

Bemoaning the adverse effect of the coronavirus pandemic, he noted the demolition, if done immediately, will cause harm.

GRIDCo, in a statement, hinted of the demolition in March 2021, aimed at ridding its transmission lines in parts of Accra of illegal structures.

 The areas to be heavily affected will be the Tema-Achimota-Mallam transmission lines together with lines at Ashaiman Middle East, Dzorwulu, American House, Adzei Kodzo and Mempeasem.

“The exercise will rid the areas of illegal occupants and encroachers, whose activities prevent access to the transmission towers,” the statement read.

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He took to his social page to make the appeal, stating that people, especially at Dzorwulu, American House and Mempasem should be given time to evacuate before the exercise.

He expressed optimism that the authorities at GRIDco have a good heart and will grant his request.

Read the post below:

The exercise is expected to take place in March 2021, though no specific timelines have been stated.

A statement signed by the Corporate Communications Manager, Ebenezer Amankwah, indicated the areas to be heavily affected will be the Tema-Achimota-Mallam transmission lines.

“The exercise will rid the areas of illegal occupants and encroachers, whose activities prevent access to the transmission towers,” the statement read.

The statement added the lines run through Ashaiman Middle East, Dzorwulu, American House, Adzei Kodzo and Mempeasem.

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It added: “When completed, the exercise will enable unimpeded access to transmission towers by GRIDCo engineers and contractors in order for construction works to be carried out.”

Read the full statement below:

The exercise is said to have commenced at about 3:30 a.m on Thursday, rendering more than 35 families, including children, homeless.

When the Daily Graphic got to the scene, a three-bedroom house, a mud house and three other concrete structures had been razed to the ground.

Property, including home appliances, clothing, auto spare parts and furniture, were lost in the exercise.

The affected families were seen salvaging what they could from the debris.

They claimed they were not given enough time to move out before their residences were demolished.

No Notice

A resident at Abossey Okai and an eye-witness, Vance Abossey, said the demolishers were assisted by armed police officers who stormed the homes and ordered the occupants to move out.

He said residents, who delayed in moving out, almost had the buildings collapsing on them.

He described the houses that were pulled down as family homes that had been standing for more than 100 years until 2017 when some men alleging to be from the Ablekuma Central Municipal Assembly earmarked them for demolition.

“The men visited here regularly a few months ago and verbally informed the residents that their homes will be demolished to pave the way for a road construction project,” he said.

He expressed his disappointment over the failure of those responsible for the demolition of the houses to do the right thing by notifying the victims formally.

Mr Abossey also expressed doubts about the reasons given for tearing down the buildings.

He urged the government to intervene since the affected residents had nowhere to go.

Property lost

A victim of the demolition exercise, Ernestina Agyekum, who is a mother of six, could not control her tears as she narrates her ordeal to the Daily Graphic.

“Apart from losing my property, I almost lost my children as they were in the room when the exercise began,” she said.

Ms Agyekum said prior to the event they were informed verbally by a group of men that a mud house in the vicinity was the target for demolition since it was old and unsafe for habitation.

She said the men came back later with a different reason and said there were other houses to also be demolished for a road construction project.

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“Now, my children are not able to go to school since their school items have all been destroyed. I also have to think of a way to repay loans I have taken from the bank for my business,” she said.

A 32-year-old woman, who said she was a single parent, also said she lost her three-bedroom house and a food business in the exercise. She maintained that the victims were not given any formal notice to quit before the houses were demolished and they had not also been assured of any compensation.

Another resident, Joseph Atsu, said he lost auto spare parts worth thousands of Ghana cedis in the exercise and appealed to the government to intervene, adding that they had not been treated fairly.

Assembly

When the Ablekuma Central Municipal Assembly was contacted by the Daily Graphic, officials confirmed undertaking the demolition exercise but declined to comment further.

An engineer at the assembly, who introduced himself only as Justice, demanded a formal letter before he would speak to the issue.

The exercise is said to have been conducted around 5:am Saturday when occupants had not opened their shops.

The over 100 metal container shops were pulled down even before occupants had the chance to evacuate their property.

Some victims told 3news.com that all their investments have been destroyed.

They claimed they were not served notice of eviction before the demolition exercise was carried on.

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Meanwhile, the person behind the demolition and the purported owner of the land, one Richard Osei, insists he served all the occupants eviction notice three weeks ago.

Its Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, in a statement described the demolition of the building as a huge contempt.

According to the party, the presidency could have stopped through engagements at the highest level of diplomatic relations, adding he failed as a result of sheer incompetence and incapacity to articulate their national pride before other world leaders.

 It lamented the embarrassing situation in Ghana had again highlighted the poor rating of the Buhari Presidency by other nations, making reference to the xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

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“The Buhari administration exhibited unpardonable weakness and failed to protect innocent Nigerians who were being killed in violent xenophobic attacks in South Africa last year,” it recalled.

However, it has charged President Buhari to wake up to both his domestic and international responsibilities.

Read the full statement below:

Press Statement

Demolition of Embassy: Buhari APC Have Brought Shame to Nigeria – PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the demolition of the Nigeria Embassy in Ghana has further shown how Buhari Presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC) incompetence has destroyed the respect and honour other nations had for our country.

The party said that the embarrassing situation in Ghana has again highlighted the poor rating of the Buhari Presidency by other nations, exposed its lack of capacity to exude our nation pride as well as its failure to meaningfully engage other world leaders on diplomatic issues.

The PDP described as disheartening that since the incident. President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC have not demonstrated the littlest effort to preserve our nation’s integrity, beyond the tepid statements by our Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema.

Our party holds that the demolition of our nation’s embassy is a huge contempt, which the Buhari Presidency could have stopped through engagements at the highest level of diplomatic relations, but failed as a result of sheer incompetence and incapacity to articulate our national pride before other world leaders.

This situation has further explained why attacks on Nigerians and Nigerian interests in foreign lands had escalated under the Buhari administration, with Nigerians being harassed and killed in various parts of the world by assailants, who take advantage of the incompetence and weaknesses of the current government in Nigeria.

The PDP particularly recalls how the Buhari administration exhibited unpardonable weakness and failed to protect innocent Nigerians who were being killed in violent xenophobic attacks in South Africa last year.

The PDP therefore calls on President Buhari to wake up both to his domestic and international responsibilities and save our nation from further embarrassing situations across the globe.

Signed

Kola Ologbondiyan National Publicity Secretary

The building was being constructed to house staff and visiting diplomats to the High Commission.

JoyNews editor, Fred Smith, who was at the scene, said the men threatened to shoot staff of the embassy who were present at the scene if they interfere in their operations.

According to the head of security at the High Commission, Emmanuel Kabutey, the leader of the team that came to demolish the building told them they had the backing of National Security and that “if any of us try, he will clear us off.”

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Mr Kabutey complained about the lackluster attitude of the police in handling the situation.

“When the police came, they did not come to us or any other person but rather went straight to the man [leader of the armed men] they had a friendly chat, exchanged numbers with him and allowed him to go.

“When they came back in, they took pictures but did not ask me or my boys anything,” he lamented.

The Acting High Commissioner, who was present when the incident happened, is said to be terrified and has gone into hiding.

Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwasi Amoako-Atta, has been lauded for his bravery having ordered the demolition of a 22-storey building at the Airport residential area in Accra.

“I wasn’t surprised at all when I heard and saw the video of my big brother instilling some discipline. He is a disciplined man and I know he can do the job, and it’s only proper that we support him as he ensures that the right thing is done,” Member of Parliament (MP) for Kpandai, Matthew Nyindam said.

The move by the Roads Minister follows numerous complaints from residents in the community that the developer had destroyed portions of a major road in the area.

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“Because of this project you destroy a major public road? This is nonsensical, this is madness,” the Minister shouted at the contractor during a visit to the site on Wednesday.

Below is the video of the Minister:

Mr Nyindam in an interview on Adom FM’s morning show Dwaso Nsem on Thursday said it is important that foreign nationals obey the laws of the land, explaining that Ghanaians outside the country are supposed to be law abiding and therefore it is only proper that foreigners abide by the country’s laws.

To him, Mr Amoako-Atta has been one of the finest ministers Ghana has ever had and therefore needs public support in ensuring that he discharges his duties without any external interference.

It follows the Kumasi High Court’s dismissal of an application seeking to restrain the company from claiming ownership of the encroached land.

Gyaasehene of Sene, Nana Osei Yaw filed that application last year to prevent the state and Ghana Water Company from recovering any part of the said land encroached by the former and his assigns.

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But High Court judge, Justice Senyo Amedahe ruled that granting such an order could affect the production of portable water to Kumasi and its environs.

“It is true that the applicant is the allodial owner of the disputed area but the respondent has the legal administrative right over area in dispute and not the respondent. If this application is granted, it will restrict the respondents from discharging their administrative  control over the disputed area,” the court ruled.

The court continued, ” disposing off  the lands in the disputed area will lead to the vegetation being cleared and one will not need to study rocket science to know that by clearing vegetation within the catchment area will affect the volume of water to accumulate in the dam for the production of enough portable water to serve the city of Kumasi and its environs. The Owabi Dam and its water treatment plant is a national asset which is necessary for the sustenance of life of those who depend on it for treated water,” the ruling said.

The Owabi Dam currently produces two million gallons of water below its full capacity of three million gallons of water daily.

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Its 22-feet- depth has been reduced to 7 feet due to siltation.

Attempts by the Ghana Water Company, to protect the catchment of the Owabi Dam have not yielded the desired results.

Developers continue to encroach on the dam despite the adverse implication of their actions.

At least, three people, including a middle-aged man believed to have sold the land to private developers were arrested in 2016.

In an attempt to prevent GWCL from recovering the stolen lands, Plaintiff, Nana Osei Yaw argued in court that the Ghana Water Company failed to pay compensation to land owners.

But the court ruled he could resort to legal avenues to ensure payment of compensations.

” If the reason for this suit is because government has not paid the allodial owners from whom the land was taken, any compensation, there are legal avenues available for the land owners to ensure that they are paid.

The refusal of the Ghana government to pay compensation to land owners from government acquired properties does not revert ownership and control to the allodial owners, ” the court ruled.

The court further ruled production of water for Kumasi and its environs will suffer if the application is granted.

“The entire city of Kumasi may end up suffering from shortage of drinking water should the application of  the applicant be granted as compared to the number of people living in the disputed area who may suffer if the application is disallowed”

The ruling has paved way for the demolition of structures cited illegally on the company’s lands.

The Ghana Water Company has been carrying out public announcements warning residents of an impending demolition exercise.

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Officials in the region have declined comment, saying they have not been authorized to speak to the issue.

None of the developers were on site during our visit to the area.

But Nhyira News sources say the plaintiff has filed an appeal at the Appeals Court for a review of the High Court decision.

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Over 400 persons risk mass ejection from Kaizer Flats in Tema following a court eviction order granted the Tema Development Corporation (TDC).
The ejection exercise is scheduled for today, Thursday, February 1, 2018.
Adom News’ Issabella Ave Gidiglo reported on Adom FM’s Morning Show “Dwaso Nsem” Thursday that the order was issued by the Tema High Court in 2013 after the TDC had ruled that the flats failed structural integrity tests.
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Engineers had declared Blocks 407, 408, 410 and 415 at building complex unsafe for human settlement due to their dilapidated nature and therefore had to be demolished.
In all 187 residents, made up of 53 children and 134 adults, are to vacate the flats.
According to Issabella, residents expressed reluctance to shift to transit camps. Some locals fear to lose their properties.
The decision to demolish the building has resulted in a long-standing battle between the TDC and the occupants who have declared their resolve to resist any such move.
 
 
 

The affected houses belong to encroachers, who have built along the stretch of the land earmarked for the project.

District Chief Executive for Gomoa East, Benjamin Kojo Otoo who supervised the exercise told Adom News the project is being funded by the government and is expected to ease the constant traffic congestion in the Kasoa township.

“The demolition exercise will make way for the expansion works to commence on the Kasoa Winneba highway to ease traffic and accidents on the main highway which connects the Central region to Western region.

“When completed, it will hugely support the economy and the region as a whole and so it is important that the affected understands when the construction finally begins” he said.

Listen to the DCE

In a statement, the AMA warned owners of structures along the Odaw River, Korle Lagoon, Old Fadama, the East Legon Green Belt, Mensah Guinea, Railway Station (around circle VIP Terminal), the stretch from Avenor to the Sikkens Bridge and other areas to remove them immediately before Wednesday’s operation.

The AMA in the statement also stated that the unauthorized parking of vehicles on pavements and roads especially by mechanical shops and car garage owners are to desist from such practices and remove all vehicles either on repairs or abandoned from the shoulders of roads.

According to the AMA, its officials will clamp and tow such vehicles and surcharge the offenders for the cost of removal.

Below is the full AMA statement

PRESS RELEASE

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) wishes to remind the general public especially all those who are putting up structures on government reserved lands such as along the Odaw River, Korle Lagoon, Old Fadama, the East Legon Green Belt, Mensah Guinea, Railway Station (around circle VIP Terminal), the stretch from Avenor to the Sikkens Bridge, Agbogloshie ,Glefe and Chemunaa where structures were removed last year and left fallow to enhance the ongoing dredging project to remove them immediately.

Furthermore, hawkers who have turned footbridges and the under-pass of over-head bridges into trading points are to stop these activities now. All those who are selling on pavements and roads in the Metropolis are being reminded that their activities are contrary to AMA Street Hawking bye-laws 2011. While those hawking in the middle of the road are breaking the above mentioned bye-laws as well as the Road Traffic (Amendment) Act, 2008(Act 761) Section 29(2).

All are again being reminded that it is an offence to dispose of refuse, especially e-waste in water ways.

In addition, the unauthorized parking of vehicles on pavements and roads especially by mechanical shops and car garage owners are to desist from such practices and remove all vehicles either on repairs or abandoned from the shoulders of roads. AMA officials will clamp and tow such vehicles and surcharge the offenders for the cost of removal.

Finally, removal of such structures shall commence from WEDNESDAY MARCH 22, 2017 and they should know that constructing without permit is an offence punishable by law.

NUMO BLAFO III HEAD OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS