Demolition victims praise DCE for pull-down order

Scores of families are set to become homeless as authorities at Atwima Nwabiagya Assembly begin demolition of buildings in waterways.

In one of the targeted communities on the Kumasi-Barekese Road, many houses were submerged when two streams overflowed their banks two weeks ago.

Anomakosa and Aboboano streams are all tributaries of Offin and Owabi Rivers, which houses the Barekese and Owabi dams.

Surprisingly, instead of the usual protests that characterize such exercises, victims are praising the District Chief Executive, Nana Asare Bediako, for taking a bold step to address perennial flooding in the area.

Two structures had been pulled down at the time Nhyira News arrived at the scene, with many others on the list.

Residents were forced out of their homes two weeks ago after their houses went under water following days of uninterrupted rain.

A cosmetic products dealer recounts how divine intervention saved her family from drowning, having lost three thousand Ghana cedis cash being bank loan she had contracted, to the floods.

The flood water forced its way into their apartment, sweeping away money she received from a bank (name withheld), a day before the incident. She lost utensils, clothes among others to the flood.

Authorities say houses constructed here, including a fuel station under construction, have no valid permits.

In a sharp contrast to the normal resistance by victims to such exercises, residents here support the action of the assembly, though some say they have nowhere to go to.

Mr. Yaw Owusu whose 4-bedroom apartment is affected commended the assembly for the action. One of the victims, Mr. Boadi who claims to have a permit on his building but could not produce it when asked to do so, however allowed the demolition exercise to take place.

But DCE, Nana Asare Bediako, tells Nhyira News the action is meant to save lives and property. He hinted that similar tough measures will be undertaken, with no compensation to victims.