Hundreds flee abandoned affordable housing units in Kumasi

Hundreds of squatters living in the abandoned Affordable Housing units at Asokore Mampong in the Ashanti Region Kumasi have started vacating the area.

The Minister of Water Works and Housing Dr. Kwaku Agyeman Mensah in November gave squatters a month ultimatum to vacate the place to pave way for refurbishment or face ejection by the police.

The Minister gave contractors stern warning, saying any delays on the part of contractors will not be tolerated.

‘Contractors listen carefully, I will ensure that your contracts are terminated if you do any shoddy work, or do not report on site regularly as required. This is our propaganda project for 2016 campaign,’ he warned.

However, checks by Ultimate news’ Isaac Bediako indicate that about 75% of the squatters have fled the community to pave way for contracted engineers to commence work.

A resident of Tech Ayigya Zongo a suburb of Kumasi, Ibrahim Abubakar confirmed that majority of the occupants are seen everyday packing out.

‘I stay few meters away from the housing units and every night I see trucks of vehicles moving their properties, I can say majority of the occupants have left, after the Regional Minister gave them ultimatum,’ he said.

He said the mention of the Regional Police Commander DCOP Nathan Kofi Boakye brings shivers down their spine.

‘Last two weeks the Police came here to warn them that if the ultimatum date elapsed and they are still here, they will face the full rigours of the law. They announced that DCOP Kofi Boakye will be here. I can say the mere mention of his name frighten them,’ he intimated.

The Resident expressed worry that there is no equipment on the site to commence the projects.

‘The worrying situation is that we are yet to see any equipment on the site, some of them are reluctant to move because they have the impression that government promises and never delivers, we are appealing to government to allow the contractor kick -start the project,’ he suggested.

He stated that robbery cases have reduced drastically in the area due to police presence.

‘I can authoritatively say that we have criminals around, because the police patrol are always here, but they don’t attack we the neighbours, they snatch people who do not stay around phones, bags and monies,’ he disclosed.