By Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo, GNA
Tema, Jan. 12, GNA – Residents of the Tema Community Four Kaiser Flats have expressed strong opposition to a move by TDC Ghana Limited to evict them from their homes ahead of a proposed redevelopment exercise.
The residents, many of whom are pensioners, described the eviction notices inscribed on the structures, giving them one week to vacate, as unfair and distressing.
They maintained that they had legally purchased the flats and should not be treated as squatters.
Mr Kwaku Amonoo, a resident, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that occupants had invested heavily in maintaining the ageing structures, accusing TDC of neglecting its maintenance responsibilities.
“We bought the houses, and we have repaired many defects in these buildings, but TDC has not done any maintenance. They should rather focus on renovating their abandoned clubhouse and leave us alone,” he said.
Ms Dorothy Mensah Yawson, another resident, questioned the basis of the eviction, stressing that the company was aware of the state of the houses when they were allocated to occupants.
“TDC knows the houses are not in good condition, yet they gave them to us. Why are they now embarrassing us as if we are squatters? When we are ready to move, we will move. Why give us just one week?” she asked.
She appealed to President John Dramani Mahama to intervene and advise TDC against the eviction, adding that the proposed relocation to Tema Community 26 was unacceptable.
“I have three rooms here. They cannot replace them with those tiny rooms at Community 26,” she said.
Mr Baba Tunde Lasisi, Assemblyman for the Horticulture Electoral Area, said the issue had been brought to his attention by the residents and had caused widespread anxiety and sleepless nights among them.
Addressing the media at a press conference, he questioned the eviction move, noting that he had not been officially informed by TDC and called for proper engagement with the affected residents.
According to him, relocating the residents to the Kpone Affordable Housing enclave at Community 26 would negatively affect their livelihoods, as most of them worked in industries within Tema.
He explained that the traffic situation from Community 26 could result in residents and their school-going children spending more than three hours commuting daily, with serious financial and health implications.
Mr Lasisi further criticised the timing of the eviction, describing it as inappropriate, especially after families had incurred expenses during the festive season and at a time when schools had reopened with fees due.
He also recalled that a similar demolition exercise carried out by TDC at the Kaiser Flats about eight years ago for redevelopment had yielded no results, noting that the land had since been left bare, overgrown with weeds and used for grazing animals.
He therefore questioned the justification for embarking on another eviction exercise without clear redevelopment outcomes.
GNA
Kenneth Odeng Adade
