The Assin Fosu Division of the Forestry Commission has expressed strong concern over the eviction of 13 of its staff members from their residences at Assin Andoe by the Assin South District Assembly to pave way for the construction of a 24-hour Economy Model Market.
The Deputy Manager of the Assin Fosu Forestry Commission, Mr. Vitalis Tang, said the affected staff members have been left homeless, with their personal belongings displaced following the evacuation.
According to him, the Commission had earlier engaged the District Chief Executive (DCE) on the matter, resulting in an agreement that the staff residences would not be affected during the demolition exercise.
However, he said the arrangement was not honoured.
Mr. Tang explained that the Commission had expected the agreement reached with the Assembly to be respected but expressed disappointment that the demolition proceeded despite the discussions.
He added that the Forestry Commission’s head office is preparing to engage the Assin South District Assembly over what he described as actions taken against its employees.
Beyond the eviction issue, Mr. Tang also highlighted the importance of addressing climate change and environmental challenges, noting that the Commission is implementing measures aimed at restoring degraded areas and helping to prevent flooding.
He, however, indicated that the Assin Fosu area and its surrounding communities have not recorded significant flooding incidents in recent times.
The Deputy Manager reaffirmed the Forestry Commission’s commitment to environmental protection while calling for better coordination between state institutions to prevent conflicts during development projects.
