A sense of unease has settled over the Adum railway enclave in Kumasi, Ghana, as retired and serving railway workers face a three-month eviction notice issued by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA). The affected residents, some of whom have lived in the enclave for over 30 years, fear being rendered homeless if the directive is enforced without alternative arrangements. The enclave has historically served as a residential area for workers of the Ghana Railway Corporation, now known as the Ghana Railway Company Limited.
The Adum railway enclave is home to both active staff and pensioners who have dedicated a significant part of their lives to the railway sector. Many have raised families in the area, which features a cluster of aged bungalows and newly erected wooden structures. A visit to the enclave revealed that the residents have been served with notices bearing the KMA insignia, giving them three months to vacate the premises. The development has sparked concerns about the welfare of the affected workers.
Emmanuel Quani Mensah, a former Principal Sales Officer of the Ghana Railway Company, expressed the distress caused by the eviction notice. He stated that many of the occupants have been neglected after retirement, with some pensioners yet to receive their full retirement benefits from the government. Mr. Mensah emphasized that the residents have nowhere else to go and called on the authorities to address their concerns before taking any decision that would displace them.
The eviction notice has raised questions about the ownership and status of the land. Some retired and active staff members have questioned why they are being asked to vacate railway property, given the government's assurances that railway lands and assets are not for sale. They suspect that the railway land has been acquired by a private developer, fueling growing suspicion in the community.
The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly has confirmed plans to undertake an evacuation exercise at the Adum railway enclave but has refuted claims that the land has been sold to a private developer. The Mayor of Kumasi, Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi, dismissed speculations about the sale of state assets, insisting that the exercise is being carried out solely in the interest of public safety and security.
According to the Mayor, a recent fire outbreak in the enclave exposed the difficulty emergency services face in accessing the area. He explained that the Assembly has been technically advised to open up the enclave to allow for easy access by emergency responders. The Mayor urged the occupants to voluntarily vacate the area before the deadline expires, warning that the Assembly will be compelled to forcibly evict them if they fail to comply.
The affected residents are calling on the authorities to clarify the ownership status of the Adum railway land, halt any private takeover, and consider their long service and current plight before taking any decision that would displace them. The situation remains uncertain, with the residents awaiting a resolution to their plight. The government's renewed efforts to protect public lands and recover encroached railway lands have added to the complexity of the issue.
Key points
- The eviction notice has sparked concerns about the welfare of retired and serving railway workers in Kumasi's Adum enclave.
- The residents are questioning the basis for the proposed eviction and the ownership status of the land.
- The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly has confirmed plans to undertake an evacuation exercise, citing public safety and security concerns.
