Fear and uncertainty have gripped residents of the Mamobi West Electoral Area in the Ayawaso North Municipal Assembly of the Greater Accra Region following plans by the Assembly to evict thousands of residents from a community many have called home for more than five decades.
For many families, the proposed eviction represents more than the loss of shelter; it threatens their livelihoods, businesses and long-established social networks within the community.
Concerns intensified after the Municipal Chief Executive disclosed in an interview with the Daily Graphic that the Assembly intends to begin the eviction exercise in August as part of plans to construct a modern 24-hour market complex to serve the municipality.
The proposed relocation has been a contentious issue for several years, with previous attempts to move residents facing strong opposition and alternative proposals from the affected communities.
Residents insist they are not against development but argue that it should not come at the expense of their dignity and wellbeing.
Many of the affected families say they have lived in the area for more than 50 years, raising generations of children and building businesses that sustain their households.
They fear the planned exercise could leave them without suitable alternatives for accommodation and livelihoods.
Some community members recalled a similar exercise undertaken during the previous administration when sections of the settlement were cleared to pave the way for the construction of the Ayawaso North Municipal Assembly offices.
They fear the latest development could result in further displacement.
A major concern among residents is the proposed relocation site in the Shai-Osudoku District.
According to them, the area lacks essential infrastructure such as potable water, electricity, schools, healthcare facilities and accessible roads, making it difficult for affected families to rebuild their lives and economic activities.
In an effort to halt the planned exercise, residents have petitioned the relevant authorities, appealing for intervention and a more humane and sustainable solution to the situation.
However, community members say the Municipal Assembly appears determined to proceed with the eviction plans, leaving thousands of residents anxiously awaiting clarity on their future.
The Assembly Member for the Mamobi West Electoral Area, Hon. Wisdom Kwadwo Boateng, popularly known as Kumnipa, has been engaging with residents as discussions over the proposed relocation continue.
