Railway Quarters squatters in panic evacuation
Drama unfolded at the Railway Quarters behind the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) head office in Accra yesterday, when squatters in the area started packing their belongings upon seeing officials of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) serving notices about an intended demolition of their structures.
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Immediately the residents spotted the AMA officials in the company of police personnel marking structures in the slum with red ink, they made strenuous efforts to save their belongings, thinking a demolition of their dwellings, mainly wooden structures, was in the offing.
Within a short time, countless household items, evacuated from the many structures in the slum, had been placed in the open, particularly along the right side of the Graphic Road from the Obetsebi Lamptey Roundabout. Some of the items were also placed in the open space under the Graphic overpass.
Belongings
The items included mattresses, refrigerators, TV sets, suitcases, standing fans, cooking utensils and other household items.
Some of the residents called their children to come over and assist them to pack out, or to keep watch over the items which had been packed in the open.
Even before the team of officials arrived at the place about 10 a.m., more than half of the illegal structures had been emptied of their contents.
The drama obviously confused the team of officials when they arrived at the place as they wondered what was happening.
By that time, more than 80 per cent of the dwellers had evacuated their belongings, leaving behind empty structures.
Residents cry out
When the Daily Graphic spoke to some of the squatters, they said in view of what had happened at Sodom and Gomorrah, they knew it would get to their turn.
“Some of us were always living in fear because we expected this to happen at any moment. Unfortunately, many of us are still looking for new places of abode,” one of them, Mr Ibrahim Dauda, said.
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According to him, he had lived in the area for close to eight years during which period, “I got married to one of the ladies I met here and now we have two sons”.
“I have sent my two sons and wife back to Tamale, my home town, when we heard of the intended demolition. I am still looking for a place to relocate my two kiosks,” he said.
Patricia Ludiatu, another resident, pleaded for more time to move her family and belongings.
“As it stands now, my seven children do not even know where they will sleep,” she said.
AMA ready
An official of the AMA, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the planned demolition of the structures along the railway line, was intended to avert a possible disaster.
He said the action was in line with the AMA's mandate and objective to beautify and clear the city of miscreants and criminals, adding that the assembly would not compromise on its stance to ensure discipline in the city.