Ashaiman Dawn Demolition Exercise Leaves Ashaiman Traders Counting Losses.
A dawn demolition exercise carried out by a taskforce of the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly at the Peaceful Settlers enclave near the Ashaiman traffic light has left several traders displaced and counting their losses.
The operation follows weeks of tension between traders at the Peaceful Settlers area and the Ghana Private Road Transport Union over the ownership and planned redevelopment of the disputed land.
Affected traders insist the matter is currently before the court and have questioned the timing of the demolition exercise.
Thursday’s dawn demolition exercise at the Peaceful Settlers area in Ashaiman saw several makeshift shops and some houses pulled down, while others had their roofs ripped off in what affected traders describe as an attempt to force them off the disputed land.
The land has for years remained a major source of contention between traders and residents on one side, and the Ghana Private Road Transport Union and a private developer on the other.
Eyewitnesses say the exercise, which lasted for nearly an hour, was carried out under heavy security presence, with personnel believed to be from National Security reportedly supervising the operation alongside some alleged land guards.
Speaking to the media, some affected traders maintained that the ownership dispute remains before the court and therefore could not understand why such an exercise was sanctioned before a final ruling has been delivered.
The traders also insist they have occupied the land for more than three decades and vowed not to relinquish what they describe as their rightful property.
Daniel Agudah, an affected trader and a resident, also accused the Ashaiman MCE, Freeman Tsekpo, and the MP, Dr Ernest Norgbey of being the mastermind behind this dawn’s exercise.
Meanwhile, the Member of Parliament for Ashaiman, Ernest Norgbey, who visited the scene to assess the situation and help calm tensions, denied claims linking him to the demolition exercise.
According to him, since the matter is currently before a court of competent jurisdiction, he remains hopeful that the longstanding dispute will soon be resolved legally and peacefully.
The demolition exercise is also said to have resulted in significant financial losses, with some traders alleging that unknown individuals stole their wares during the operation while they were away from the scene.
REPORTER: AHIABOR AUGUSTINE.
