More than 1,000 residents were displaced following a demolition exercise carried out at Coconut Plantation in Osu, within the La Dadekotopon Municipality, on Saturday, April 11, 2026.

The exercise was carried out under the supervision of the CEO of Anyok Holdings, Clemence Djato, and formed part of a broader effort to reclaim state lands.

In an interview on Channel One TV, the residents said that although they had previously received notification about the exercise, the timing caught them off guard.

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“We were sleeping when they came with their bulldozers and started demolishing everything without saying a word; they just told us to pack our things so they could pull everything down“ a resident recounted.

Others lamented the severe impact of the exercise, citing the difficulty of finding accommodation in Accra and the high cost of rent.

“This has affected us in so many ways. Some of us have sick people here. Now we don’t even know where to sleep,” another resident said, adding that the area had become unsafe for habitation following the demolitions,“ a resident stated.

Some displaced individuals described the situation as distressing, stating that they struggled to understand their next steps as families separated and possessions were destroyed.

However, authorities involved in the exercise defended the demolition, describing it as necessary and long overdue after years of engagement with occupants on the land.

They noted that the operation was conducted without violence, adding that residents were assisted in salvaging some of their belongings before the structures were pulled down.

While authorities maintain the exercise was orderly and necessary, affected residents are calling on government and relevant agencies to intervene and provide urgent relief and resettlement support.

JKB/EB

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