By Helena Selby
Some residents of the Adjei-Kojo Suncity community are pleading with the government to come to their aid and prevent the Tema Development Corporation (TDC) from demolishing their various houses.
According them, they were victims of circumstance, and had no idea that the land had been taken over by the government, and that it was meant for the TDC.
The residences claim that the land was originally sold to them by the Santoe Chief and elders, and that the only document they had concerning the land was the indenture that was provided to them when they bought the land.
According to the residents, the houses were built with their entire lives sweat, and with others their retirement/pensions benefits.
They have therefore come out with the suggestion that if there were any penalties to be paid they would gladly do so, so that they could keep their homes, instead of the intended demolition exercise which would render them homeless.
According to Rev. Mannford, Principal of the Redeemed International School Ajdei Kojo Suncity, three years ago his school was marked for demolition, but he later on went to the TDC to obtain a permit, and so does not understand why the TDC should still insist on demolishing building after three years.
According to him, if the land is meant to be given to a private estate developer, what would be the fate of the residents, as they would not receive any compensation?
To him, it would be very unfair of the TDC and the government, if they make the citizens of the country homeless, all in the name of a foreign private estate developer.
Moreover, as far as they were aware, there was no way any civil service worker would be able to buy or even rent a house from a private estate developer.
He said that if the government has not been able to rescue the homeless on the streets, it would be very insensitive of it to create more homeless people.
He mentioned that demolishing buildings and giving the land to a foreign private estate developer, would not only cause people to be homeless, but also create unemployment, which the government has never been able to solve.
He noted that apart from all the consequences of demolishing houses, the possibility of the incident leading to violence is there.
To Mr. Alfred Doe, who is also a resident, he does not understand why the TDC considers buildings in the community as just a handful and not decent enough.
According to him, the TDC was using this description in order to get approval quickly from the government.
He mentioned that there were many decent houses in the community, including bungalows, storey buildings, guest houses, a police station, and even schools.
He said with the presence of these houses in the community, the TDC could make the community an estate, by demarcating and planning the land to suit the situation of the already well-built houses, and as well provide social amenities.
He stressed that the people, as well, want to make the community look like an estate, and as a result have been able to bring electricity to the community, and as well contributed some seed money for the grading of the roads.
According to him, he sees the residents of the community as good citizens, and that all they a need from the TDC and the government, was to make their dream of turning the community into an estate, a reality, rather than just demolishing and destroying all that they had toiled for, these long years.
According to Mr. Joe Abbey, Managing Director of the TDC, the proposed place for demolition was bought by the government of the first President of Ghana, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, with the chiefs being compensated, for the purpose of turning it into an estate - that is Communities 23 and 24. The chiefs in this case do not have any legal right over any land there, and cannot sell them.
According to him, since the habitants over there did not seek permission from the TDC, but relied on an indenture given to them by the chiefs, it makes their houses liable to the demolition exercise.He noted that the only way some houses would be spared from the exercise, is through regularisation.
This, he said, would be possible if the house falls within the demarcation lines and plan of the TDC, but with houses which don't fall within it, they will be demolished.
However, for those who have a permit, and still eligible for demolition, they would be compensated by the TDC.
He blamed the inhabitants for not making the right enquiries from the TDC before purchasing the land, and building there.
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