Achimota Land: UG staff, other residents vow to resist eviction by alleged private developer

Staff of the University of Ghana and other occupants of lands adjacent to the Achimota Police Station have vowed to resist eviction by an unknown private contractor.

This follows the demolition of houses and makeshift structures on the land by individuals described as land guards, in the presence of police, in the early hours of Sunday.

According to the Chairman of the University of Ghana Branch of the Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU), Benjamin Nkumsah, the demolition exercise was carried out by individuals described as land guards and thugs, in the presence of police.

In an interview with Channel One News, Mr Nkumsah demanded that the eviction process be halted while calling on the Inspector General of Police, Dr. George Akufo Dampare to intervene.

The occupants are seeking respect for their rights and an immediate halt to the eviction process.

They are also demanding answers from the authorities regarding the identity of the private contractor and the legitimacy of the demolition exercise.

“I also heard this incident around 12 am. I had a call from our staff [University of Ghana staff] in Achimota. So, they called that there’s this demolition exercise happening at their residence so quickly we had to also mobilise and come and ascertain what’s happening.”

“What’s happening is that someone is putting up a building here, I don’t know who the building belongs to, but all of a sudden, they came around 12am to come and do a demolition exercise here. And I’m told that the people that came, police were there, pistols were mounted, even they were shooting around the places, so we are seeing this as an incident the State is aware which we are calling on IGP.”

“You cannot come to somebody’s residence around 12 to destroy the place, even people were in with family, at least respect the people.

“So, we are asking that whoever is in charge of this building put a stop, if not, we’ll also resist any attempt to evict our people here.”

Source: Daniel Sackitey || CitiNewsroom