Fourteen households in Ghana's Wa West District, specifically in the Poyentanga community, are still awaiting compensation and relief more than three months after their homes were demolished for a 24-Hour Economy market project. The demolition, which occurred on 19 May 2026, has left elderly residents, people living with disabilities, women, and children without proper housing. They are currently sleeping in single rooms, uncompleted buildings, and relatives' houses.
The affected families, according to reports from the Ghana News Agency (GNA), have not received any compensation or relief from either the national government or the Wa West District Assembly. Madam Cecilia Kavaarpuo, a 64-year-old resident, shared her ordeal with GNA, recounting how she watched as a bulldozer tore down her home, leaving her and her household of eight without shelter. She has since moved in with relatives but has faced further challenges, including an assault that left her with a fractured arm.
The demolition has had a significant impact on the lives of the affected residents. Mr Sansan Oor, a 65-year-old man who has lived with the effects of a stroke for years, lost his bar and mango plants, which were his primary source of income and medication. He expressed his disappointment that no relief has reached the affected families months after the demolition. Other residents, including Madam Mary Gban and Mr Barnabas Dindoe, have also shared their struggles, citing the lack of proper housing and the impact on their livelihoods.
The Poyentanga Displaced Residents Association reported that a meeting was held on 31 May 2026, where the local MP, the District Chief Executive (DCE), the project contractor, and other leaders of the National Democratic Party (NDC) assured the affected residents of support within four months. However, no compensation or relief package has been provided, and the association stated that traditional leaders have allocated plots of land to the 14 households but that building support was not their responsibility.
Chiefs in the area, including Naa Adama Tiffere IV of Naahaa and Naa Abdullai Salia of Poyentanga, have stated that they have fulfilled their part by providing land but that it is not their responsibility to provide building support. Naa Salia noted that he is not aware of the timing of government or MP support. Wa West DCE Richard Wulo reported that the market's project design does not include compensation and that the Assembly is funding construction through the District Assembly Common Fund.
According to DCE Richard Wulo, the Assembly has supported the 14 households with building materials and has engaged the contractor to provide two trips of sand per household, with the MP also pledging further materials. He appealed to residents to be patient, stating that the Assembly would do more if it had the capacity, and urged them to raise concerns directly with the Assembly.
The Poyentanga case highlights a broader tension in Ghana's infrastructure push, where communities are often required to give up homes and livelihoods immediately, while promised compensation, relief, or rebuilding support can lag for months. The 24-Hour Economy programme aims to benefit communities like Poyentanga, but for the displaced households, that promise remains distant while their immediate housing and health needs go unmet.
Key points
- The 14 households in Poyentanga have not received compensation or relief four months after their homes were demolished for a 24-Hour Economy market project.
- The Wa West District Assembly has provided building materials and engaged the contractor to offer sand to the affected households but claims it is not obligated to pay compensation.
- The Poyentanga case highlights the challenges faced by communities displaced for infrastructure projects in Ghana, where promised support can be delayed.
