The victims of Appiatse Phase Three have staged a protest against the authorities’ inaction, despite being given a deadline of August 31 to evacuate the occupants of the building on their plot.
A month has passed since the deadline, with no action taken, leaving the protesters feeling frustrated, disappointed, and ignored. They demand attention and action to address their unresolved plight.
Approximately sixty-eight households face uncertainty as the commencement date for the third phase of the Appiatse redevelopment project remains undetermined.
These households, whose structures were demolished for the first phase, were promised new buildings but have yet to receive them after months of waiting. They are now protesting and demanding the release of funds to build their own houses.
It has been nearly five months since Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and Lands Minister Samuel Abu Jinapor commissioned the first phase and cut the sod for the third phase. Despite this, the affected individuals have yet to receive their houses.
A site visit on September 12, 2024, revealed that 104 out of 124 commissioned houses are occupied with 20 houses remaining uncompleted- doors and windows are yet to be fixed.
The sixty-eight households in phase three claim they have received no communication regarding the project’s start date since the sod-cutting ceremony. Despite writing to the board, they have been ignored.
On Thursday, they staged a protest march through principal streets in Bogoso.
The protest, headlined “We Want Our Homes, We Want Our Lives Back,” featured placards reading “Phase Three Victims United We Stand for Our Rights”, “Support Fund, Support Our Needs, Not Just Ceremonies”, “Stop the Suffering, Start the Building”
The affected individuals seek prompt action to address their plight and provide necessary support to rebuild their lives.
They demand transparency and communication regarding the project’s timeline and progress. They presented a petition to Municipal Chief Executive Dr. Isaac Dsamani, led by Joseph Abu, secretary for the victims in phase three.
“We have held press conferences and informed stakeholders about our needs, warning them that if we don’t hear back, we will demonstrate to express our discontent. We are demanding two things: either they build our houses immediately or sit down with us and provide funds to build our own homes.
“If we don’t hear from the authorities, we will take our protest to Maxam Company and occupy the space until action is taken. We urge President Akufo-Addo and his government to address our plight and take concrete steps to resolve our situation,” he said.
The Municipal Coordinating Director for Prestea Huni Valley, Emmanuel Gyan, who received their petition on behalf of the Municipal Chief Executive urged them to let peace prevail.
“I will stand in for the Municipal Chief Executive to receive your petition. I thank you for conducting a peaceful protest. We are all aware of the Appiatse incident, and the government has committed significant resources to restore normalcy. The government has done its best to reconstruct Phase One, and progress on Phase Two is advanced, paving the way for the commencement of Phase Three. I implore you to let peace prevail.” Mr Emmanuel Gyan stated
By Ebenezer Atiemo
