Notorious landguards, allegedly backed by police, descended upon the lands adjacent to the Achimota Police Station in the early hours of Sunday, leaving a trail of destruction and despair in their wake. The demolition of houses and makeshift structures, which was carried out without notice or explanation, has left staff of the University of Ghana and other occupants homeless and demanding justice.

According to eyewitnesses, the demolition exercise was carried out by masked individuals, described as notorious land guards and thugs, who were accompanied by police officers. The presence of law enforcement has raised concerns about state complicity and the use of force and intimidation in land disputes.

Yohane Tetteh, a staff member of the University of Ghana, who was affected by the demolition, described the scene as “terrifying” and demanded an immediate halt to the eviction process. He stated that the demolition was carried out by individuals who were “clearly not interested in following due process” and called on the authorities to take action.

Member of Parliament for Okaikwei North constituency, Hon. Theresa Lardi Awuni, also condemned the incident, stating that the demolition was “unacceptable” and “a clear case of state complicity”. She called on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to investigate the incident and take appropriate action.

Assemblyman for Anumgble electoral area, Hon. Daniel Dzadey, also denounced the demolition, stating that the Municipal Assembly was unaware of the exercise. He demanded answers from the authorities regarding the identity of the private contractor and the legitimacy of the demolition exercise.