University of Ghana staff and other residents near the Achimota Police Station have pledged to resist eviction by an unidentified private contractor. This follows the early Sunday morning demolition of houses and makeshift structures by individuals identified as land guards, with the police present.Benjamin Nkumsah, Chairman of the University of Ghana Branch of the Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU), stated that the demolition exercise was conducted by individuals described as land guards and thugs, in the presence of the police.
In an interview, Mr. Nkumsah called on the Inspector General of Police, Dr. George Akufo Dampare, to intervene.The occupants are seeking respect for their rights and an immediate halt to the eviction process.They are also seeking answers from authorities about the identity of the private contractor and the validity of the demolition exercise.“I also heard this incident around 12 am. I had a call from our staff [University of Ghana staff] in Achimota.
So, they called that there’s this demolition exercise happening at their residence so quickly we had to also mobilise and come and ascertain what’s happening.”“What’s happening is that someone is putting up a building here, I don’t know who the building belongs to, but all of a sudden, they came around 12am to come and do a demolition exercise here.
And I’m told that the people that came, police were there, pistols were mounted, even they were shooting around the places, so we are seeing this as an incident the State is aware which we are calling on IGP.”“You cannot come to somebody’s residence around 12 to destroy the place, even people were in with family, at least respect the people.“So, we are asking that whoever is in charge of this building put a stop, if not, we’ll also resist any attempt to evict our people here.”