Teshie Martey Tsuilu demolition exercise angers MP

In yet another case of destruction of buildings, about one hundred or more houses were on Thursday pulled down at Teshie Martey Tsuilu near Spintex in Accra.

Affected residents have called for immediate investigations into the demolition of structures which were purported to have been illegally constructed on a land belonging to the Aviation Authority.

TV3's Frederick Clarence Williams reports that only a few residents were able to salvage their properties before bulldozers rammed in. Several wooden structures were also demolished by police and military personnel under the supervision of officials of the La Dadekotopon Municipal Assembly.

Affected residents, who were seen weeping and yelling, were enraged by the haste with which the exercise was conducted, questioning the legality of the action.

While in tears, a woman with a one-week-old baby wondered where she was going to sleep with her baby. Although no official was ready to comment on the demolition, a source who spoke to TV3 on condition of anonymity said the structures were illegally constructed on aviation land.

Residents on the other hand claim they have documents covering the structures close the rail lines. They lamented that despite a week's notice, the assembly came in only four days later to carry out the demolition.

"If you are embarking on a demolition exercise, there should be justice for all. You don't demolish some structures and leave other structures untouched and then when we question you, you tell us that you are only doing your job," an angry resident lamented.

Some school children in uniform were seen assisting their parents to salvage what was left of their belongings despite the uncertainty about their next place of abode.

A disturbed resident said, "what pains me a lot is that, these children were in school when they were called to come and have a look at what had happened to the kiosks that they sleep in. Now in case it rains, where are these children going to lay their heads".

Benita Sena Okity Duah, NDC Member of Parliament for the La Dadekotopon Constituency who was visibly upset about the exercise, said she had never been notified about the exercise. She expressed surprise at the MCE's claim that he was also not aware of such an exercise in his jurisdiction.

"As the MP for this constituency, a demolition work is going on without my knowledge. My MCE was here and he tells me he didn't know anything about it. So I am surprised that an MCE from another jurisdiction will come and operate here. How can they use just one week to get these people out of here? For God's sake, these people are trying to make a living for themselves. Some people don't even have the means to go and rent a house," she said.