Following President Mahama’s order for the people of Adjei Kojo Sraha, near Ashaiman in the Greater Accra Region to be given back their lands after they were rendered homeless in a demolition exercise, the Member of Parliament for Tema West, Irene Naa Toshie, wants the victims to be additionally compensated.
According to her, the compensation will be necessary to mitigate the plight of the victims who have been living in tents and makeshift structures since they lost their homes.
[contextly_sidebar id=”dMbpBXY7uNdnPwDXgR889Kdf16vIH0ts”]She said many of the residents labored for years to save to put up the structures that were demolished, and are thus not financially capable to bounce back.
She narrated the story of a resident who saved for nearly eleven years to put up the structure that was demolished. According to her, that resident is now on retirement and cannot build without support.
In January 2014, the Tema Development Corporation (TDC), supervised the demolition exercise by armed security personnel that rendered the about 500 residents accused of encroaching on the land homeless.
Speaking to Citi News after President Mahama’s announcement, the MP for Tema West, said he was grateful for the President’s directive but said they do not only need their lands but a compensation of at least GHc50,000 each.
“I think I would have liked something between the range of GHc50,000 to be modest for each of them,” she said.
In the mean time, most of the residents appear to be content with the President’s directive and have been expressing their joy over the decision to Citi FM’s correspondent, Elvis Washington.
Amidst songs of praise for President Mahama, one resident took the time to highlight the problems the displaced residents had gone through hence the need for them to be compensated.
“First, we need to be compensated for the suffering we went through. For the past two years, it has been very difficult for us. Secondly, we need our buildings and we made this petition long ago.”
He also called on the authorities to clear away the debris left by the demolition so they can resume the construction of their homes.
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By Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana