Assembly demolishes illegal structures along Tema-Accra Motorway
The Ayawaso West Municipal Assembly (AWMA) has carried out a demolition exercise to clear containers and other illegal structures erected along the Tema-Accra Motorway.
The exercise, which commenced at about 7a.m last Tuesday, was supervised by officials of the assembly and police personnel.
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Over 200 illegal structures, some of which served as residential accommodation, garages, vulcanising shops and chop bars, were brought down by the taskforce.
While some structures were completely destroyed in the exercise, other squatters succeeded in mobilising trucks to tow their properties to safety.
The exercise was carried out from the Accra end of the toll booth of the motorway to Shiashi near the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange.
Notice
The Chief Technical Officer of the assembly, Mr Augustine Okai, who also doubles as the Chief Building Inspector, told the Daily Graphic that adequate notice was served the affected people contrary to assertions by the squatters that they were not notified.
According to him, the last notice served on the squatters was on March 11, 2019, adding that apart from the eviction markings on the structures, the assembly also engaged the people and advised them on the need to leave the shoulders of the motorway.
Mr Okai added that most of the occupants had been there without authorisation, and that the exercise became necessary following refusal by the squatters to vacate the place.
He said in order to prevent people from returning to the site, the assembly had put in place measures to regularly monitor activities along the stretch.
Reactions
Some of the victims condemned the assembly for the manner in which the exercise was carried out.
They described the exercise as inhumane and blamed officials of the assembly for the impromptu manner the entire demolishion was carried out.
Some claimed that the operation took them by surprise, and that they were also prevented from removing their valuables to safety.
“You know we are in the rainy season and accommodation is hard to come by in Accra.
Where do they want me and my children to sleep tonight; this is so inhumane,” Memuna Issah, a chop bar operator said.
Mr David Koomson, another squatter, said he had lived in the slum for seven years due to challenges in finding accommodation in the city.
According to him, all his savings had been lost in the demolition exercise. He claimed that the destruction caused to his property might affect the livelihood of his family.
