There was wailing and gnashing of tooth on the Sakumono Ramsar web site within the Tema West Municipality of the Higher Accra Area, as greater than 100 buildings and fence partitions erected on the wetland have been crushed down in a demolition train launched into by the authorities on Tuesday.
House owners of among the demolished buildings who couldn’t stand the sight of years of sweat and toil come down in a flash of sunshine may very well be seen wailing and crying whereas others even collapsed out of ache.
In a uncommon feat of bravado, among the affected landlords confronted the taskforce conducting the train in anguish, spiting hearth on the authority who sanctioned the train.
It took the well timed intervention of heavy security current to forestall what may have grow to be a massacre as among the affected homeowners fiercely charged on members of the taskforce.
The train, which was carried out by the Niceer Accra Regional Coordinating Council (GARCC) in collaboration with the Nationwide Catastrophe Management Organisation (NADMO), the Forestry Fee and the varied Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) within the area shaped a part of elaborate measures outlined by authorities to mitigate flooding within the Higher Accra Area throughout the wet season.
It was additionally to forestall additional building and occupation of high-risk areas, whereas lowering the vulnerability of residents to flooding and potential hazards.
The Higher Accra Regional Minister, Mrs Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo, beneath whose watch the train was executed defined that the train was carried out as a proactive measure to mitigate the impression of flooding and guarantee public security.
Regardless of the excessive stage of resistance, the Minister famous that the GRCC wouldn’t again down on the train however would proceed to make sure that all unlawful buildings have been cleared from the world.
In a twist of occasion, among the builders within the space accused the location supervisor of the Forestry Commission of being complicit within the unlawful actions happening within the space.
They alleged that the supervisor, Mr Thomas Acquah, whose duty included; taking steps to forestall folks from encroaching the wetland which was beneath the belief of the Forestry Fee typically collected monies from builders and allowed them to go forward with building illegally.
Mr Acquah who was current throughout the train immediately denied the allegations vehemently, declareing that accusations have been filed in opposition to him as a result of he had grow to be a torn within the flesh of these unlawful builders.
“I’ve not taken any cash, not even a single dime from anybody. My position as a public servant is to implement the legislation, to not facilitate unlawful actions,” he emphasised.
He recounted a confrontation with one individual, who allegedly threatened and insulted him when he and his job pressure tried to demolish her buildings on the waterway.
Mr Acquah claimed that the lady chased his group with a car and suspected to be armed males on one in all such event, main them to flee the location.
He maintained that he had warned the individuals concerning the illegality of their actions and had not taken any cash from anybody as alleged.
In the meantime, Mrs Ocloo, stated a committee could be set as much as examine the allegations in opposition to the location supervisor and the findings made public.
The investigation, she stated was to get to the basis of the allegations and decide whether or not the location supervisor had certainly collected monies from these people.
She expressed concern over the state of affairs, questioning why builders have been allowed to achieve this stage with out intervention from related authorities.
“We’re all Ghanaians however nobody is above the legislation and that the Ramsar web site designation of the waterway might be revered and we are going to take motion in opposition to anybody discovered to be in violation of the legislation,” she stated.
BY CECILIA YADA LAGBA
