‘Greater Accra voted massively for NDC; show sympathy and care’ – Okoe Boye tells gov’t over demolitions

The Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Bernard Okoe Boye, has criticised the government over demolitions and the displacement of residents, arguing that the people of the region deserve better treatment after voting massively for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2024 general elections.

Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Dr Okoe Boye said the government must show greater sympathy for residents whose homes, businesses and livelihoods have been affected by demolition exercises.

“Greater Accra voted for the NDC, and the people do not deserve to be treated this way. The government must show sympathy and care,” he said.

The NPP regional chairman said the government should have engaged affected communities and followed due process before undertaking the demolitions, even where authorities believed the occupants had breached the law.

He argued that the situation was particularly troubling because job creation was among the promises that helped the NDC secure victory in the 2024 elections.

“They promised to create jobs, and that contributed to their victory in 2024. We should not be witnessing this. The government should have engaged the people and given them clear timelines,” he stated.

Dr Okoe Boye cited demolitions at Madina and tensions in Nima over the proposed model market project as examples of situations requiring better consultation with residents and traditional authorities.

He questioned whether the committee overseeing the process had adequately engaged the affected communities before the exercises.

“Ask them whether the committee has engaged the affected people or the traditional authorities. There has been zero engagement,” he alleged.

He also accused the government of using soldiers to intimidate residents and said the destruction of homes and businesses had left some people displaced and without jobs.

Dr Okoe Boye invoked the example of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., saying politicians had a responsibility to speak for people who felt they were suffering injustice.

“Martin Luther King stood for injustice and the voiceless. What is going on is affecting all of us. As a politician, I am a voice for the voiceless and those suffering injustice,” he said.

He questioned why a Member of Parliament aligned with the government had reportedly expressed distress over the demolitions, arguing that such reactions raised concerns about how the exercises were being handled.

“If this government was not heartless, why would the MP who is part of the government come out to cry over the demolition?” he asked.

The NPP regional chairman maintained that he would not have joined the planned Ga-Dangme demonstration if the affected residents had been properly engaged or offered alternatives.

“I would not have joined this demonstration if the people had been engaged or if alternatives had been provided. People are hungry, and many have been displaced and left without jobs,” he said.

His comments amidst the Ga-Dangme Progressive Front’s ongoing demonstration, dubbed “Aaagbe wɔ demo.”

The group says the protest is intended to draw attention to demolitions, displacement, the loss of livelihoods, and concerns about the protection of Ga-Dangme heritage.