2,000 Face Homeless Threat

Over 2,000 people in the Ashaiman Municipality will soon be rendered homeless, as the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly (ASHMA) plans to demolish unauthorized structures in some areas.

The assembly's officials stated that the demolition exercise is meant to bring sanity in the municipality.

According to the assembly, some structures were being erected at unauthorized places without approval from the city authorities.

About 500 unauthorized houses and other structures at Middle East, Afariwa Lorry Terminal, Adjei-Kojo Junction, Irrigation Development Authority (IDA) area would be affected.

Structures along the Accra-Tema Motorway and Roman Down, which have become a den for criminals who hide there and attack innocent people, would also be demolished.

A kraal at Old-Tulaku would also be relocated to the IDA area by the assembly.

During a tour of the area, some residents told DAILY GUIDE that they have nowhere to go after residing in the area for decades.

They admitted that some notices were given to them to move their structures but appealed to ASHMA to give human face to the demolition exercise.

'ASHMA inscribed on each structure, 'last warning, remove by September 28, 2015 but we are appealing to them to give some human face to the demolition exercise since we have nowhere to go currently,' a resident noted.

The people pleaded with government to intervene and save numerous helpless citizens who would be rendered homeless if the exercise is carried out.

Ibrahim Baidoo, Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of the ASHMA, who confirmed the development, said people have erected unauthorized structures in certain places contrary to the National Building Regulation and the bye-laws of the assembly, as well as the Local Government Act 462.

'What we intend to do is not to displace people but put security measures in place to create access routes and protect the assembly's lands for future development.

'We retrieved some dangerous weapons in some criminal dens along the motorway and I don't think people will be happy when they are returning from work and they are attacked in that area,' he explained.

According to him, 'This issue is not about trying to render people homeless but I think it is not for nothing that we have an established assembly which is the highest political and administrative and for that matter a planning authority for the municipality and we are supposed to manage Ashaiman,' he pointed out.

He said the call by the President and the Local Government Ministry, coupled with the fact that the area was being turned into hideout for criminals, informed their decision to embark on the demolition exercise.

He noted that the demolition at IDA is to pave way for the assembly to carry out the youth in agriculture project.

Mr. Baidoo indicated that despite repeated warnings, some illegal occupants build their houses on the assembly's lands.

From Vincent Kubi, Ashaiman