100 Structures demolished at Abofu

More than 100 illegal makeshift structures along the railway line at Abofu, a slum community in Achimota were pulled down yesterday by the Okaikwei North Municipal Assembly (ONMA).

The exercise, which was undertaken in collaboration with the Tesano Divisional Police Command was intended to allow the Ghana Railway Company to put the land to good use and to rid the place of criminals.

The team also impounded 39 vehicles belonging to some garage operators that were parked on the shoulders of the roads.

Officials of the assembly said the owners of the cars would be arraigned before court today.

Demolition

While some of the victims pleaded for their structures to be spared, others made attempts to salvage some of their belongings before they were destroyed by the bulldozer.

According to the victims, they were surprised by the move of the assembly as they did not receive any prior notice from any authority.

But the personal assistant to the Municipal Chief Executive of ONMA, Mr Rexford Frimpong maintained that the people were warned many times to vacate the area but they would not budge.

“Reports that we received about security situations indicate that this is one of the most dangerous flashpoints in the municipality and we realised that allowing them to dwell over here gives them the opportunity to perpetuate those evil acts.

“It is important that we eradicate this base to minimise the act of drug peddling in the area.

Recently there was a melee over some drug issues and it led to one person losing his life and we have to take the proactive action to bring this thing to an end,” he added.

Garage operators

Garage operators whose vehicles were impounded also challenged the move by the assembly, with some denying ever receiving notices from the assembly.

But, the MCE, Mr Boye Laryea said that since they had been warned severally to desist from parking on the shoulders of the road and they had refused, they could not be pardoned.

“This is to forestall any unfortunate incident. We will not wait until something happens. Some of them have been washing their cars along the roads, causing damages and creating potholes.

They will be processed to court today and we will ensure they don't return to the road,” he said.

The Divisional MTTD Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Mr Francis Aboagye said the activities of such garage owners caused traffic obstruction and put roads users in danger.