The Animal Research Institute of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has said the Institute will resist attempts by government to move Old Fadama residents to their offices at Pokuase, saying they need the space for their research activities.
[contextly_sidebar id=”uFEtG48OzwuOTiRpn5J0kAJhCbeQtO0V”]The National President of the Research Staff at the CSIR, Collins Teye said the land that has been allocated for research.
“You cannot sacrifice research for relocation. Government can do better..The land has been given to the CSIR for livestock production in Ghana.”
Speaking on Eyewitness News, Mr. Teye pointed out that though government has a legal right to “take the land it has to allow the CSIR develop science and technology instead”
“We have invested
a lot into the land we are on now. We can’t just leave and start somewhere else, Government wants to throw away several years of research into livestock production with the relocation ” Mr. Teye stressed.
He noted that the CSIR is willing to resist government’s attempts to move the Old Fadama residents to the area, adding that the Institute will do all it can to send residents away if government follos through with the plan.
Aside the CSIR, the Ga Traditional Council is also opposing government’s plan to resettle the residents Adjen Kotoku.
In an earlier interview with Citi News, the acting President of the Council, Nii Ayi Bonte said: “From 1960, Nkrumah relocated them to New Fadama, they were also relocated to Darkuman, why should they be relocated to places of their choice?This time we will not agree.”
We can’t fight for relocation
Meanwhile the Youth Leader of residents of Old Fadama, Abdullah Alhassan has welcomed government’s initiative to move them to the area.
Speaking on Eyewitness News, Alhassan said though government’s proposed resettlement has been met with mixed reactions from both the CSIR and the Ga Traditional Council, its hands are tied and “cannot go fighting” to ensure that they move.
“We don’t own the land, that Pokuase land belongs to government so if it has decided it is taking us there, it is the duty of government to ensure that we are relocated.We are not opposed to the idea of having our compatriots being relocated. All that we are seeking to do is to find shelter for our vulnerable old women and children because we are in the rainy season,” he remarked.
Old Fadama residents were rendered homeless last Saturday after a demolition exercise by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA).
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By: Marian Efe Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana