Squatters brace up for showdown with railway authorities

Squatters along the Odawna
railway lines have said that
unless they are provided alternative shelters they will not vacate the railway lands since they pay rent to some officials of the Ghana Railway Corporation.
Most of the squatters Public Agenda spoke to said they have been living around the rail lines for the past five to twenty years, and called for dialogue between them and the ministry.
They argue that even if Liberians and Sudanese refugees have been given a place to lay their heads, Ghanaians deserve better.
The Ministry of Harbours and Railways last week issued a final warning to the squatters along the country’s rail lines to quit by the end of next month or be forcefully moved.
The ministry says those who fail to quit by the end of this month, (June 2005) will have their property demolished. The Sector Minister Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi said in order to give a human face to the exercise, a committee had been set up to sensitize the squatters on the dangers their activities pose.
According to the Acting Chief Director of the Ministry, Alhaji M.N.D Jawula, the squatters were initially given up to the end of April to quit but said the ministry had decided on humanitarian grounds to extend the deadline to the end of this month.
He reiterated the fact, that the GRC was finding it difficult to attract investors for its rehabilitation works since any potential investor who inspected the lines complained about the presence of the squatters.
But Charles Acheampong speaking for his colleagues said they been living in the area for the past eight years and paying yearly rent of 20,000 cedis to some officials from the Ghana Railway Corporation, (GRC).
“Therefore, any attempt by anybody to forcefully eject us would be unfair and inhuman”, he complained. He told this reporter that before he put up his kiosk along the rail lines, he went to the offices of the GRC and paid an amount of ¢400,000 and was issued with a receipt. Therefore unless an alternative place is provided for us, we do not think that we will move out or give for our structures to be demolished’ he stated.
The Odawna railway area, also known as ‘Odawna estates’, could be described as a neighborhood on its own. There are all kinds of businesses going on there. They range from eating places, popularly known as ‘chop bars’, barbering and ‘shoe makers’ shop, as well as large scale charcoal dealers who come from all corners of the country.