Police Striking Force Demolishes Buildings

THE POLICE Striking Force last week embarked on a demolition exercise at Teshie, a suburb of Accra, pulling down several houses.

Chronicle gathered that Superintendent Foli of the regional police headoffice led the task force. The demolition was in accordance with a court order issued on June 6, last year by the deputy Judicial Secretary, Mr. N.C. A. Agbevor, asking the police to assist in the execution of the demolition.

"To forestall any breach of the peace that may arise, it would be greatly appreciated if you could detail twelve armed policemen to assist the officers to execute the writ," he instructed.

The victims however contended that no prior information was given to them to remove their properties before the demolition.

Chronicle learnt from an eyewitness at the scene that the victims were crying foul. But a visit to the scene indicated that most of the houses had been marked with red colour for sometime now.

According to the Dzasetse, who is the head of the Lenshie quarter and controls the affairs of the land, Nii Ashiekwei Oshaipem III, for quite a long time people have been encroaching on the land illegally. He said that land belongs to the Lenshie quarter headed by the late Nii Ashitey Ottswansu II who registered it at the Land Title Registry.

According to him, after the death of Nii Ottswansu II, his successor Nii Ashiekwei Oshaaipem III, together with the then chairman, Benjamin Nii Ashiboye Armah, and the secretary, Daniel Nii Ashai Armah, went to the Lands Registry to register the land in the name of Lenshie but while the re-registration was in progress, the people of Gbuglah began selling the land illegally and as at now they are still selling a situation which he said, generated the protracted land dispute among them.

Despite several warnings to the people to stop selling the land the Gbuglahs quarter continued. According to Oshaipem III the Gbuglah sell to foreigners who also sell to other people at expensive rates.

The rightful owners to redress in court but despite the court ruling in favour of the Lenshie quarter the Gbuglah quarter continued selling the land to people.

He, therefore, said notices were sent to those who sold the lands and those who bought them to prepare to quit the land after a ruling on January 10 this year at the 28th February road court in Accra.

However six completed houses and several uncompleted ones were demolished by the police task force by the order of the court as the first phase of an exercise by the Lenshie quarter warning illegal land occupants.

In an interview with Chronicle, Mr. Samuel Armah Annang, a victim, said the land was bought six years ago from are Amartey Mahama popularly known as Seaman, Mahama Jacob and 'Oneyou' Mahama, all from the Gbuglah family and was attested by Nii Korlefio and Nii George Korley Odonkor, both family elders and secretaries.

He added that the building, which was demolished, was a completed four chamber and hall but could not tell the cost of the building.

Samuel continued that no notice was sent to him from anybody since the court signed all the indentures on the land and that they were at home when someone called to tell them about the demolishing of the house and when they rushed to the scene they found the houses grazed to ground level.

The case was then reported to the Teshie police station for further investigation.