Ofankor wood sellers’ slum to be demolished
More than 200 wood sellers at Muus, a growing slum at Ofankor in Accra, have been given a one-month grace period by the Ga West Municipal Assembly to relocate to pave the way for a demolition exercise.
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The demolition has become necessary because the wood sellers have filled a stream in the area with sawdust and built wooden structures on it.
A gas filling station has also been set up there.
This has blocked the flow of the river, leading to the flooding of the area whenever it rains, with its consequent loss of property.
Aside this, other residents, who are not wood sellers, have constructed unauthorised wooden shelters all over the area, making it sordid and congested and a hideout for criminals.
According to the assembly, the situation could result in a tragedy if urgent steps were not taken to demolish the structures and clear the sawdust for water to flow freely in the stream.
The Ga West Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Sam Atukwei Quaye, gave the directive when he led a team of assembly members on a tour of the area.
He said the area had been intended for the wood sellers to operate; however, other people had inhabited the area and were putting up unauthorised shelters.
According to him, plans to relocate the residents to another place provided by the assembly at Kotoku, near Nsawam, were underway to pave the way for the demolition and dredging exercises slated for a month’s time.
Mr Quaye said the assembly and the leadership of Muus had met and agreed to relocate the residents.
Furthermore, he said, the assembly had taken a decision to close down the gas station in the area, although it had a permit.
“We are closing it not because the owner has no permit but because circumstances have changed and if we do not take a decision, there could be a national disaster,” he emphasised.
Wood manufacturers react
One of the wood manufacturers, Mr Nana Yaw Appiah, who has worked at Muus for 17 years, said the one-month grace period given to them to relocate showed that the assembly was inconsiderate.
Although they were ready to move, the time was not enough for them to prepare and move to the new settlement, he said.