The Ghana Free Zones Board [GFZB] has issued a final warning to squatters encroaching on their Tema community 21 site in the Greater Accra Region, to vacate before Friday February 21st 2014.
The move according to the GFZB is to pave way for a local investor who has shown interest to commence the development of the 150 acre land into a world class residential enclave for the Board.
Briefing newsmen in Accra on Thursday, the GFZB Acting Deputy Executive Secretary, Madam Obuobia Obeng Darko, said the site which was declared by then President Rawlings as a free zone area in 1997, has been earmarked for residential enclave for the Board.
The development of the site will create jobs for artisans such as masons, carpenters, painters, welders, plumbers as well as other professional artisans in the real estate industry, she said.
Failure to vacate the site , she added by Friday February 21st 2014 will leave the Ghana Free Zones Board with no any other option than to forcibly flush them out to pave way for the commencement of the project which is set to start by the first quarter of this year.
She pointed out that they have found an investor with the requisite capital to develop the entire site into a state of the art enclave and that drawings and a proposed land use plan have been presented by the investor who she added has already made some financial commitments.
Responding to a question on whether the force eviction of the squatters will not add up to the hardship been experienced in the country’s economy lately, she said , ‘’we are embarking on a course to reclaim what belongs to us and the time to do that is now’’.
She further explained that this is not the first time they have issued an evacuation warning to the squatters adding that a few of them including some farmers abided by the directives and moved out whilst the recalcitrant ones still remained on the site.
This parcel of land was part of land compulsory acquired by the Colonial Government in 1952 which was carried out by the Tema Town and Port under the acquisition of land Ordinance [Number. 38 of 1952].
The Deputy Boss of the Ghana Free Zones Board was tight lipped when she was asked to name the company which has shown interest in the project, but was quick to add that the company is a local investor.
On his part, Mr. Nsiah Asante, the GFZB Head of Residential Enclave, added his voice on the need for the Board to reclaim the land from the encroachers for the earmarked project.
He said’’ we cannot allow indiscipline to take over the nation all in the name of social democrats, we need to set the records straight and the right time to do it is now’’.
Newsmen after touring the said site at Tema Community 21 discovered that the land has been occupied illegally by artisans such as masons and auto mechanics. Some churches and educational institutions were also found on the site.
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