SOCIAL

Ga East demolishes unauthorized structures on GAEC lands at Atomic
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the Ga East Municipal Assembly (GEMA), Hon Janet Tulasi Mensah, has cautioned against illegal physical development in the municipality and advised prospective developers to conduct due diligence on lands before acquiring them to avoid litigation and sanctions.

Date Created : 8/27/2018 5:53:39 AM : Story Author :

The Hon MCE made this remark when she led the Development Control Unit of the Assembly to demolish structures illegally built on lands belonging to the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC).

The exercise which started around 4am on Saturday saw all structures on a vast stretch of GAEC lands razed to the ground by two earth-moving machines under the watchful eyes the Hon MCE who was supported by some key Staff of the Assembly including the Municipal Coordinating Director (MCD), Mr Joshua Adams Asihene and members of the Municipal Security Council (MUSEC).

The heavy joint military and police team present ensured that the exercise was carried through peacefully and successfully and without resistance from the affected owners of the structures and squatters.

Dr. Hassan Ayariga, the 2016 presidential candidate of the All People's Congress (APC), was among the illegal occupants of the GAEC lands.

A couple of weeks ago, the Assembly's Development Control Unit embarked upon a similar exercise which was impeded by Dr Hassan Ayariga who pulled a gun on the team, claiming he had legally acquired the land and been granted permit to build by the Assembly.

However, the Assembly rebuffed his claims as they turned out to be untrue and was subsequently invited by the MUSEC, where he was cautioned to stay away from the land.

He disregarded the Assembly and MUSEC's orders to ward off the disputed land and ignored persistent notices and returned to site to erect walls around it.

Addressing the media while the exercise progressed, Hon Janet Tulasi Mensah, said the Assembly will not renege on its responsibilities of protecting state lands and noted that such impunity, as demonstrated by Dr. Ayariga will not be tolerated.

She cautioned other developers in the municipality to be watchful and conduct due diligence before acquiring lands for development.

She indicated that the Assembly would resort to the courts of the land if they had to demolish completed and occupied structures which are found to be illegally constructed.

Hon Janet Tulasi Mensah disclosed that the Assembly was liaising with GAEC to acquire a parcel of their lands to construct a Waste Transfer Station and Water Retention Basin separately to address the flooding situation in the municipality.

The Director-General of the GAEC, Prof. Benjamin Jabez Botwe Nyarko, expressed appreciation to the Hon MCE and the Assembly for taking such bold steps and assured her of their support and cooperation towards the development of the municipality.