Kawukudi demolition: Squatters unhappy with GHC800 compensation

Squatters at Kawukudi Brigade in Accra have registered their displeasure over what they say is an unfair gesture by the government and authorities on compensations due them prior to their ejection.

The entire catchment area was grazed down in a demolition exercise that took place in the early hours of today, supervised by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA).

The squatters say they negotiated for GH?3,000 but were only given a meager sum of GH?800. This according to them is not enough to rent any apartment in the capital city.

“We went to inquire and were told we need a minimum of GH?2,400 to get us an apartment so we pleaded with the authorities to give us Ghc3,000, but we were surprised to have received notice that we would be given only GH?800 which cannot help the situation at all”, a squatter said.

“What can GH?800 do in this modern day Accra? Nothing! We told the authorities, but they refused to listen to our cry,” another squatter bemoaned.

Meanwhile, the Community Liaison Officer for the project, Nii Adjei Tawiah, who was also the officer in charge of the demolition, told the Gold New the Assembly together with the Ministry engaged representatives of the squatters to discuss a suitable and more humane time to leave the area, and an amount of GH?800 to facilitate their transportation was agreed on.

“The GH?800 is to facilitate their packing and transportation, and already about 70% of the squatters have left due to the notice we have been serving them till yesterday,” he said.

The exercise which is to prepare the grounds for the Marine Drive Tourism Investment Project (MDTIP) is spearheaded by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and seeks to harness the arts, create a cultural village, and boost tourism in Ghana.

The Marine Drive Tourism Investment Project (MDTIP) represents a long held dream that has existed as far back as independence to transform Accra’s beachfront into an iconic city centre destination with a beautiful skyline that showcases Ghana’s dignity and pride to the world.