Adjei Kojo residents demand return of lands with compensation after 2 years of demolition

Over 200 residents of Promise Land and Solomon City in Adjei-Kojo in Tema West whose houses were demolished by the Tema Development Corporation two years ago are demanding back their land with compensation.

The disgruntled residents on Thursday marked two years of their eviction which rendered them homeless.

In red and black attires, the residents sang and shouted “we want our land”, “we want our land.”

According to them, they are tired of 'perching' with families and friends and want their lands back.

They accused TDC of using unlawful means to take over lands they acquired legitimately from the traditional owners.

Weeds have taken over portion of the lands, while other parts have also been demarcated for buildings with construction of roads and culverts.

The Tema Development Corporation (TDC) accused the residents of encroaching on the land meant for other development projects.

In January 2014, the TDC supervised the first demolition exercise that rendered the residents homeless. Not even the intervention of the Tema West MP Irene Naa Torshie Addo could stop the TDC from going ahead with the demolition.

Addressing a press conference to mark the two years of the demolition exercise, Chairman of the Promise Land Residents Association, Francis K Dziwornu, accused the TDC for using unlawful means to take over lands they acquired legitimately from the traditional owners.

He expressed shock that TDC could begin developing the land they had claimed was water logged and so could not be developed.

Francis Dziworsu claimed that TDC has not been able to produce a single document in court to prove that they own the land in question.

“The information I had at the last court sitting was that the trial judge was angry and threatened to give a judgment,” he alleged.

According to Francis Dziwornu, they are left at the mercy of the vagaries of the weather saying “the weather is so harsh yet we are sleeping outside”.

“People are squatting in the uncompleted houses in adjoining communities. Our children are not safe,” he added.

He blamed the Parliamentary Select Committee on Works and Housing for failing to address their grievances after petitioning them for almost two years.

He urged President Mahama to intervene to ensure that their lands are returned to them with compensation.

“We are pleading with our president to show us compassion just as he had for the two Yemeni ex-detainees by making sure that our land is given back to us.”

Nii Djorwulu (i), the Chief of Sraha East, also charged President Mahama to intervene to ensure that the land is returned to the victims.

“I plead with President Mahama to rise up for our sake because we are suffering.”

Nii Djorwulu who spoke in an angry tone warned of dire consequences if the concerns of the victims are not addressed immediately.

“The victims may be pushed to engage in armed robbery activities which we don’t want… and again our children may go wayward because they have no place to sleep.”

Story by: Michael Creg Afful

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