Hundreds of squatters have been rendered homeless after wooden structures in which they lived along a stream at Aboabo in Kumasi were demolished.
MCE of Asokore Mampong, Alhaji Nurudeen Hamidan, was at the scene to witness the mass demolition exercise at about 6am on Thursday.
A joint police, fire service and task force of the assembly was present to ensure law and order as the exercise was being carried out by a number of bulldozers.
When DAILY GUIDE visited the scene, most of the hapless-looking squatters were seen looking depressed as their homes got destroyed.
Some of them were also seen busily looking through the rubbles to pick some of their belongings, including television sets, which were still intact.
The Asokore Mampong MCE said the assembly decided to demolish the structures in 2014 but the assembly waited till Thursday morning.
He explained that the long wait was to enable the assembly to properly educate the squatters about the exercise so that they would relocate.
Addressing the media, Alhaji Hamidan said the environmental and health services department of the assembly realized that the place was not safe to live.
He said there was no proper ventilation in the wooden structures where the squatters lived, which had the potential of causing diseases.
The MCE noted that the activities of the squatters impacted negatively on the drains of the Aboabo stream, which could cause floods during rains.
Alhaji Hamidan said there was also the possibility of fire outbreak at the area as there were several illegal power connections.
He claimed also that most inhabitants at the unapproved area raped young girls and indulged in other illegal activities.
The MCE stressed that it was not proper for the assembly to allow the slum in the municipality, hence the demolition exercise.
Alhaji Hamidan warned that anybody who would erect illegal structures at the place would be arrested and prosecuted.
FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi
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