The Okaikwei North Municipal Assembly’s PRO Mr. Rexford Frimpong said reports received from the police indicate that Abofu Park Squatter’s yard has become one of the most dangerous areas in the Municipality. This has necessitated the demolition of the place.
The exercise was conducted on 16th July, 2019 by the MCE together with the Tesano Police.
According to Mr. Rexford Frimpong, allowing the squatters close to the railway line is unacceptable and encroachment on the railway line enclave is what is giving them base to perpetrate these kind of deviant behaviours.
The squatters deal in all forms of illegal drugs including cocaine as well as other social vices. He said vehemently that the Assembly will not tolerate this in the municipality.
Mr. Frimpong stressed: “It is important that the Assembly eradicates the base of the squatters so that it will minimize the opportunity of the drug peddling in this area.”
He narrated that, about three months ago the Assembly moved the peddlers from the area. However, they later resettled in some parts of the area. Recently, there was fire out break as a result of misunderstanding among themselves over some illegal drugs. This incidence led to one person losing his life, individuals and state properties were destroyed. For instance, the electric poles were burnt. The fire outbreak was also closer to a high tension cable. He added that, the worse could have happened if God had not intervened since there are other neighbours around.
He continued that proactive actions must be taken to bring this canker to an end. The Assembly will ensure that the police pursues them till they are flashed out of the area.
He explained that there are permanent structures that the Assembly need to deal with before the demolition is conducted. The owners will be invited to come along with their documents. Thorough checks will be conducted to find out where they got the permit to reside in this area before the necessary actions will be taken.
Mr. Frimpong, made it clear that these are some of the challenges confronting the Assembly before the demolition of permanent structures can be done. He added that the place is turning into a hub for drug dealers and it is dangerous for the country.
As part of the exercise at Tesano Car Garage, cars parked in front of gates and on pavements were towed by the Assembly’s task force and also clamped cars were later transported to the Tesano Police Station.
Again, Mr. Frimpong said that there are illegal car operators on the Tesano stretch. The cars parked on the shoulders of the streets, the Assembly does not know where they come from. He said: “for the past six months, we did a lot of research before we came in. We got to know that the cars are brought from far places like Ashiaman and all parts of the country.”
He added: “when cars are snatched they bring them here, they go online and sell those cars, they don’t have any address, no location. How do you locate them when they sell cars to you. Therefore, the ideal thing is that they should all have garages and the Assembly is ready to help them.”
Edited: ZIPWEB
Source: GHANA / onmaonline.com
