Govt Explains ‘Eviction Brouhaha

The government had denied claims traders and artisans in front of the private residence of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo were given short notice to move away.

According to the government, it is completely false that a weeks’ notice was given the people to move from their current location.

In the view of the government, extensive consultation was undertaken between the office of the president, National Security, the traders and artisans before the implementation of the decision.

Shop owners who have been operating around the President’s private residence at Nimia in Accra for more than two decades have been given a March 15 deadline to relocate after receiving various compensation package.

The compensation package ranges between GH¢3,000 and GH¢10,000.

However, the shop owners are grumbling over what they say is the woefully inadequate compensation considering the fact that their means of livelihood is being taken away from them.

Others have argued about the purported short notice given to them by the government to look for an alternative place to settle.

But Mustapha Abdul Hamid, Minister and Presidential Spokesperson in a statement issued in Accra yesterday insists the leadership of the artisans and traders requested for a six-week grace period from the National Security beginning from the last week of January 2018 to enable them move.

He said the National Security is continuing with the engagement processes in order to ensure that their movement is done in a manner that accommodates their welfare as citizens of Ghana.

By: Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson/ thePublisher