Story: Nana Konadu Agyeman, Koforidua
A TASK force comprising officials from the New Juaben Municipal Assembly and armed policemen last Thursday demolished a number of unapproved structures in Koforidua.
The exercise, which was carried out without notice around midday, affected wooden kiosks and container shops, some of which were believed to serve as operational grounds for wee smokers and other criminal elements.
The affected areas included Pentoawala, near the offices of the Graphic Communications Group, and areas around the Ghana Secondary School and the Koforidua Secondary School.
While the exercise was underway, owners of the various structures, who said they had not been informed ahead of it, pleaded with the task force to give them some time to enable them to collect their personal belongings.
In an interview, Nana Ama, a 22-year-old hairdresser, whose container shop was destroyed, stated that although she had been served with a notice a year ago, the assembly should have given her prior notice before executing the exercise.
Frank Adu, a scrap dealer, who expressed no worry over the manner in which the exercise was carried out, blamed himself and others for being adamant since the notice given by the assembly to vacate the Pentoawala area.
When the Daily Graphic reached the Municipal Chief Executive for New Juaben, Nana Adjei Boateng, for his comment, he said the areas where the structures had been demolished had, over the years, become “dens for criminals who engage in various illegal activities, such as drug peddling, smoking and petty stealing”.
He stated that as a result of the illegal settlements close to the girls’ dormitory of the Ghana Secondary School, the security of the students had severely been compromised, adding that “the girls are peeped at by these illegal occupants while they are taking their bath”.
He said the assembly had served prior notices to the owners of the illegal structures a year ago but they had gone unheeded.
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