'Heartless' Tema Development Corporation staff allegedly destroy shop, boutique loaded with goods and cash

A team from the Tema Development Corporation (TDC) allegedly acted with a high level of heartlessness by demolishing a shop and a boutique loaded with goods and cash at Tema Community 18, opposite Devtraco Estate.

The demolition took place on the afternoon of Friday, July 19, 2024, despite numerous residents pleading with the TDC team to allow the mother and daughter who owned both the boutique and shop to at least pack out their goods and belongings before the demolition.

The mother, Julie, and her daughter, Deborah, had been trading in the area for over 10 years, starting from humble beginnings. They began with a provision store and expanded to include a boutique when Deborah opened one near the provision shop. Through hard work and dedication, they managed to grow their business. However, what they had built over 10 years was allegedly destroyed in a very inhumane manner by the TDC staff in less than 30 minutes. The team from TDC allegedly arrived with a bulldozer and a pickup. Some staff stayed in the pickup while their colleague operating the excavator destroyed the shop and boutique. It was a sorrowful sight as the goods were bulldozed while Deborah cried bitterly.

Deborah wept uncontrollably as she watched the destruction of their business. Not even her tears could persuade the TDC team to allow her and her mother to retrieve their goods and belongings before the demolition.

The only reason for the demolition was that a landlady, who recently completed her house behind the stores, wanted a clear view and ordered TDC staff to demolish the store and boutique.

Some residents alleged that the TDC team was paid significantly by the landlady to ensure the swift destruction of the boutique and store, showing no empathy for the mother and daughter who lost everything.

After the demolition, angry residents were heard cursing the TDC team for their "cruel and inhumane" actions that had financially devastated the mother and daughter in an instant.

The residents believe that TDC could have allowed the mother and daughter to remove their goods before demolishing the structures. Instead, their business, built over more than a decade, was destroyed in one day just because one landlady needed a clear view of her house.