Over 1000 structures were razed down with more to be demolished by the close of the day.
Several containers and kiosks along the railway were gutted by fire last Sunday. The inferno which occurred is said to have also interrupted with the high tension power supply at the area.
As a result of the fire outbreak, the AMA cautioned the squatters to resettle to prevent further threatening conditions. At early hours of today, several structures were demolished to avert future interruptions with the high voltage mast.
The demolition which continued for hours was halted when some squatters set fire to the structures in protest against the exercise. The protest turned fierce as the squatters hurled stones at the police personnel who also fire warning shots to disperse them.
The Accra Regional Police Commander of Operations, Supt. Sylvester Boyuo explained that the exercise was undertaken to ease the pressure exerted on the high tension power cables. He said activities at the railway could have harmful effects on the residents and therefore called for maximum cooperation.
The Mayor of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, Alfred Vanderpuije, speaking to the media, said the exercise is necessitated to save the lives of the people but not deprive them of their livelihood.
He further stated that AMA is resolutely committed to protecting the lives and properties, and so the demolition exercise at the railway will ensure the dwellers are not endangered.
Story by Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/X fm 95.1/Accra/Ghana
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