On Tuesday, the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) La Bawaleshie in Accra removed some unlawful buildings placed below high tension wires.
The buildings were destroyed by a task group made up of GRIDCo representatives, police, and military personnel. They were situated in the municipality of Ayawaso West Wuogon.
The practise, which began at 5 a.m., involved tearing down improvised wooden structures, kiosks, and other buildings used by mechanics and other artists as their place of business.
Numerous squatters were quickly collecting their stuff when Graphic Online visited the area close to the Bawaleshie Basic School. As they tabulated their losses, some cried out in agony.
Rationale
According to GRIDCo, the exercise was required to keep people out of the regions where the high tension wires were located in order to avert any calamity. However, several of the squatters claimed that GRIDCo and the government had been dishonest about the true cause of the destruction.
They asserted that the area was being demolished in order for certain auto dealers to use it as a location to showcase and sell their vehicles.
Concerns
Although the squatters were aware of the health dangers linked with the high tensions, an auto electrician who went by the name of Asiedu claimed they were forced to continue operating there because they lacked the money to rent alternative locations.
"We must survive; finding a location to start a business is not simple. If we had the resources, we would have relocated, but we are unable to due to a lack of cash.
He said, "We have nowhere to go," adding that they were risking their health to survive.
Philip Osei, an additional squatter and auto mechanic, told Graphic Online that despite having no legal right to remain on the property, the squatters were begging with the government to carry out the removal process humanely and show pity to them.
Mr. Osei Gyawu, a lottery operator who has been in business on the property for the past 22 years, said the Task Force's justifications for the destruction were valid, but he expected to be given advance notice so he could make other arrangements.
The 62-year-old businessman continued by saying that he was concerned about how to restart because he wasn't ready for this bad circumstance.
"I arrived this morning just to discover this, and I feel that it is unfair; at the very least, they ought to have informed us so that we could make arrangements for it. I've been here for the previous 22 years, so it shocks me. My employees will no longer be engaged as a result of the destruction because I will need to rethink my strategy, Mr. Gyawu stated.