A/R GWCL management fails to occupy bungalows to replace buildings slated for demolition.
The management of the Ghana Water Company is said to have failed to occupy three bungalows constructed to replace buildings slated for demolition.
Joy News investigations have revealed that the acre of land on which the old bungalow stands is among the 400 acres of land given to the Asantehene as part of a planned resettlement.
Further checks with the Lands Commission show that the Ghana Water Company cannot provide proof of ownership of the land.
Angry workers of the Ghana Water Limited in the Ashanti Region, wearing red headgear and armbands, vented their displeasure over what they said was the “unlawful” demolition of the property of their top management.
Walls and other structures at the residences of the company’s regional managers were demolished and two bungalows reduced to rubble. Surrounding land has also been cleared and is expected to be redeveloped with five other properties identified for demolition by an alleged private developer.
The Vice President of the Ghana Water Limited Senior Staff Association in Ashanti, Emmanuel Okpoti Kodiah, spoke to the media during an inspection of the demolished properties.
“We have recently witnessed the unnecessary demolition of the boundary walls of their bungalows and the accommodation of the boys of two directors, which raises serious questions about the procedures and respect that should govern our operations. These properties are not just structures, they represent the hard work, dedication and commitment of our leaders to this organisation,” he said.
But checks by JoyNews revealed that residents of two hundred bungalows on the four hundred hectares of land held by the Asantehene have reportedly been relocated to newly built bungalows. According to sources, the land was withheld from the traditional authority because the colonial government had failed to compensate for eight hundred hectares of land.
In a letter to the relevant government agencies, the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council communicated an agreement for a public-private partnership to replace the affected bungalows.
But the staff of the water company concerned denied any knowledge of the allocation of three completed bungalows to replace those slated for demolition, although letters to that effect were sent.
“We state on record that at no time and at no time did the Region receive any communication from the headquarters to hand over the land to the interested developers. It was requested that the communications from the Regional Coordinating Council to the Region be forwarded to headquarters, which they did. This action clearly shows that they know what to do,” Emmanuel Okpoti Kodiah said.
Some heads of other government agencies have collected the keys to their completed bungalows from the Regional Coordinating Council.
But the Ghana Water Company has refused the keys to the completed bungalows and has threatened to cut off water supply within the next 48 hours if the destroyed buildings are not restored.
