A co-owner of an 18-bedroom apartment building in Cantonments, Accra, is accusing unknown men of demolishing his property without a valid reason.
Sylvester Ashun, the co-owner, claims that two months ago, a man known only as ‘Chief’ approached him and demanded that they vacate the premises.
“About two months ago, a gentleman came over with four land guards. They jumped the wall, opened the gates, and confronted the tenants, saying they were going to demolish the house,” said a visibly distraught Mr Ashun.
Mr Ashun added that the Chief claimed to be from the office of the Vice President.
“I asked him where he was coming from, and he said the office of the Vice President,” he recounted.
After Mr Ashun confronted Chief and warned him not to return, Chief allegedly claimed that the land, where Ashun’s grandfather’s house was built, belonged to him.
Despite the warning, Chief returned two weeks later at dawn, damaging parts of the building.
According to Mr Ashun, Chief returned days later with about 20 land guards and a bulldozer, demolishing the entire structure.
Mr Ashun and some tenants who tried to resist were injured during the incident.
Ashun plans to pursue legal action against those responsible.
“My aunties and cousins are in the States; they are all coming down. The next step is to seek legal redress. We may have to pursue civil action against whoever did this to us,” he said.
Many tenants are now living in their cars or with friends.
Source: Kenneth Gyasi
ALSO READ: