Demolition of parts of Kantamanto begins

Accra, Sept. 17, GNA - The demolition of certain structures in the Kantanmanto Market began on Sunday ending a standoff between the traders and a company, which has leased the area from the Ghana Railway Company to develop it into stores and a guest house.

Earth moving equipment moved in at dawn on Sunday to begin the demolition apparently catching the traders by surprise. The demolition was suspended last Sunday to give enough time to the traders to comply with the directive to leave the area.

While some of the traders pulled down their structures and conveyed their wares away, others claimed they had heard that an injunction had been placed on the demolition, thereby, ignoring the caution. But at dawn, the exercise began in earnest leaving wares, second hand clothing and personal effects under debris, leaving some affected owners desperate but helpless.

"We heard the Minister saying that, there has been a court order putting the demolition on hold, so we relaxed," one trader told the Ghana News Agency.

However, some traders tried hurriedly to retrieve as much as they could from the rubble, while scores of onlookers observed the unfolding drama.

A trader the GNA talked to expressed surprise that the police and the demolition team woke them up as early as 0400 hours, explaining they should have adopted a more humane approach. 94If we had known the exact time, there would not have been any problem with the exercise, he said=94.

'They know for sure that we would need transportation to cart our items to their various destination and that could not be provided at 4 am at.'

Ms. Susan Mintah, a divorcee second hand clothing dealer, said the demolition had shattered her life so much that she needed to find new ways of making life meaningful for her family of five children. Bremark Ventures Limited, which has acquired the area around the Liberty House Branch the Ghana Commercial Bank from the Ghana Railway Company, scheduled Sunday for the commencement of the demolition of the structures.

Some 2,000 traders are expected to be affected by the action. Bremark Venture Limited sued Ghana Railway Company and Mr Ahmed Ayuba at a High Court in Accra in May seeking a declaration of the title to the land as well as recovery of possession and damages.

Neither the Ghana Railway Company nor Mr. Ayuba entered appearance and judgement was made in default of appearance.

Mr Kwame Danquah, Chief Executive of Bremark Ventures, had told the court, presided over by Mr Justice Victor Ofoe, that his company applied to the Ghana Railway Company for a portion of the land in the Central District of Accra to develop stores and shops to support the railways modernization and beautification scheme.

According to him, Bremark was to put up a four-storey building comprising stores, offices and a restaurant. There was also to be a 10-seater Guest House for the Ghana Railway Company.

He said this application was accepted on January 24, 2003 and the MD of the Ghana Railway Company sent Bremark a lease offer letter stating the lease conditions and an attached site plan.

Mr Danquah said the Company went through all the processes and paid the Accra Metropolitan Assembly 62.2 million cedis for a permit. The court was told that after going through all these they proceeded to take possession and prepare the land for the development. However, Mr Ayuba and some armed men resisted and " a complaint to the MD of Ghana Railway Company did not yield any positive result." The Court ruled that Bremark had performed its part under the contract.

"I will make an order directed at the Managing Director of Ghana Railway Company to perform his part of the agreement and not in any way disturb the plaintiff (Bremark) from taking over possession of the land and developing it as agreed upon," Mr Justice Ofoe ruled.

He ordered the MD of Ghana Railway Company to complete the process signing a formal lease of the plot and restrained the Ghana Railway Company from interfering in any way with Bremark's possession of the land.

Meanwhile, the concerned Kantamanto Second Hand Traders Association said it was saddened by the continuous attempts being made by Bremak Ventures Limited to demolish the Market/Ghana Railway quarters buildings and thereby deprive thousands of Ghanaians of their means of livelihood. A statement signed by Mr Ansah David Solomon, a representative of the traders, also questioned the contradictions and inconsistencies in government plans of developing the railway system, while at the same time selling government lands meant for development purposes to private individuals for commercial purposes.

"This we regard as part of the illegal sale of government lands with absolutely no regard to public interest," the statement said. The Association said the unwarranted attempt to deprive members of their livelihood without provisions for relocation was inhuman, especially considering its economic effects on the lives, families and welfare of the traders.

The statement said if the government did not stop the developer from carrying out his plans it would lead to massive unemployment with its consequent effects on the national economy. The association, therefore, appealed to government to intervene to save the traders from the cruel attempt to deprive of their means of existence. 17 Sept. 06