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19.10.2005 Regional News

Taskforce demolish part of hospital wall for a private developer at Ashaiman

19.10.2005 LISTEN
By GNA

Ashaiman, Oct.19, GNA - The timely intervention by the Ashaiman Police prevented the demolition of a portion of the block wall of the Ashaiman Health Centre by the Tema Development Corporation (TDC) and Tema Municipal Assembly (TMA) taskforce.

In the morning of Tuesday the taskforce pulled down a portion of the wall of the hospital that also houses the police barracks. An eyewitness told the GNA that an elderly man had for the past two years been visiting the area and claimed ownership of a portion of the land where the health centre was built.

He said "it was not surprising that the wall was pulled down and the taskforce failed to talk to anyone but directed witnesses to the TMA".

However, Deputy Superintendent of Police, John Yamba, Ashaiman District Police Officer said when the police had the information that the wall was being demolished, some police personnel rushed to the scene because the wall served as a security to lives and properties.

He said the health officials were not notified about the demolition, because the Officer in charge called the police on phone from Accra to lodge the complaint about the action.

DSP Yamba said the police would investigate the incident. Meanwhile, at the TMA, Mr Richard Lomotey, Town Planning Officer said the TDC had legally allocated the land to one Madam Dadzie and based on that the TMA also issued a permit to her.

He said for the past two years, Madam Dadzie had been complaining to the TMA that she needed access to her land therefore, a meeting was arranged with the Member of Parliament for Ashaiman, Mr Alfred Agbesi and the health officials but none of them attended.

"As there was no land available to satisfy Madam Dadzie the best solution was to open an access for her", Mr Lomotey stated in the presence of the TMA Engineer Mr Samuel Akoto.

The Municipal Chief Executive, Mr David Annang gave the assurance that efforts would be made to erect the wall to prevent stealing at the Centre.

Mr Agbesi, who visited the scene, explained that part of the MP's Common Fund was used to wall the centre as a security measure and also to prevent encroachment because the centre had been earmarked for upgrading into a hospital.

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