Policemen plead for time to vacate dilapidated residence
Police Personnel occupying the Militia House at Community Two in Tema are pleading for more time to enable them to look for new accommodation.
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The personnel numbering 564 and their families were served an order on July 14, 2015, by the police administration to vacate the dilapidated structure due to the danger it posed to life and property.
As such power supply to the flats was disconnected on Wednesday, July 12, 2015, at about 10 p.m. by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to force the officers out.
The Daily Graphic has also gathered that arrangements were being made with the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) to also disconnect water supply to the facility which has become a permanent home to hundreds of police personnel since 2000.
Occupants at the flats alleged that the disconnection was done on the orders of the Regional Police Command which held a closed-door meeting with the ECG hours before the disconnection on Wednesday night.
A notice of vacation signed by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of training on behalf of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to all divisional, district and unit officers in the Tema Region said the deplorable state of the structure posed a danger to the occupants.
The notice further directed the personnel to look for private houses and forward applications for the payment of rent allowances for consideration.
“The IGP directs all occupants to vacate the house and look for private houses to rent. You are to forward your applications for rent allowance with necessary details for consideration,” the letter indicated.
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The Daily Graphic is also informed that the structure, a property of the GCB BAnk that has been on divestiture since the early 1990s, has been sold to an unnamed developer.
The structure, which is in a dilapidated state, has loose electrical cables hanging while iron rods on the first and second floors are exposed.
Parts of the building have noticeable cracks and there are fears the structure could cave in at any time should the personnel continue to occupy it.
The building lacks washrooms. The improvised ones have deteriorated over time owing to the lack of maintenance.
Occupants
Some of the personnel, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told the Daily Graphic that while they were aware of the dangers associated with their continued occupation of the building, they needed more time to look for alternative accommodation.
“We are unable to follow up on the disconnection for fear of victimisation. The last time we did, one of our leaders was served with a letter of transfer for allegedly instigating officers against the command in relation to the issue,” an officer pointed out.
“We have been informed to submit our names for voluntary transfer if we fail to vacate the structure,” he added.
The Regional Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Ms Juliana Obeng, however, debunked suggestions that power supply was cut on the orders of the command.
According to her, the signal for vacation of the quarters came from the national headquarters and the regional command had engaged the officers on the instructions contained in the letter.
“The command is not aware of any such disconnection exercise at the flats. We had a meeting with the ECG, but on a different issue. At no point did we discuss occupancy of the Militia House let alone the mention of disconnection of power supply,” Ms Obeng told the Daily Graphic when she was contacted.
The Public Relations Manager of the ECG in Tema, Mrs Theresa Osabutey, also said she was not aware of any such exercise at the flats.
Militia House
Work on the uncompleted structure to be used as a training school for the GCB Bank came to a halt when the Kutu Acheampong-led Supreme Military Council government was overthrown in a palace coup in 1978.
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Squatters later took over the structure until militia men ,who had previously occupied it, were made to vacate it.
However, following alleged increases in criminal activities in Community Two and its environs, the then Tema Municipal Security Council handed over the building to the Tema Regional Police Command in 2000 to serve as a temporary quarters for police personnel as a result of insufficient residenctial apartments in the Tema Metropolis.
Assembly member
The Assembly Member for the Halcrow Electoral Area, Mr Kwasi Poku Bosompem, has, however, expressed worry that the pressures of ejection were likely to compromise security in the Tema Region.
According to him, personnel needed peace of mind to go about their duties, hence the need for the police Administration to exercise restraint and allow the officers to look for decent accommodation.
Writer’s email: delarussel@gmail.com
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