The Harbour View Estate Residents Association has appeal to the government to halt the ongoing demolition of houses at the Sakumono Ramsar site in the Tema West Municipality, citing the devastating impact on families.According to the Association, there was an urgent need for a more humane resolution than the demolition exercise that was being carried out by the Greater Accra Regional Minister together with National Disaster Management Organisation and the Tema West Municipal Assemble.At a press conference in Accra on Monday, the Chairman of the Association, Mr Jonathan Boye-Doku, described the demolition exercise as "harsh and deeply distressing," displacing hundreds of families and threatening to create a humanitarian crisis.He said about 10.5 acres of land had already been affected, with many residents losing homes they had lived in and invested their life savings.According to him, although residents appreciate the importance of preserving Ghana's wetlands for future generations, the community had long developed lands outside the core areas of the Ramsar site, many of them before 2023.Mr Boye-Doku explained that most residents were genuinely unaware of the internationally protected boundaries of the site and had relied on assurances from traditional authorities when acquiring their plots."In our earnest desire to contribute positively to both community welfare and environmental preservation, the Harbour View Residents Association is fully prepared to collaborate with government to find lasting solutions," the chairman stressed.He outlined several proposals, including the establishment of a clear and enforceable mutual boundary, flood protection embankments, lagoon and river dredging, sedimentation control and other sustainable environmental measures.Mr Boye-Doku further suggested that built-up areas, estimated at between 8,000 and 9,000 plots outside the agreed core boundary, could be regularised."The government stands to derive significant revenue from such regularisation, which can then be channeled directly into critical environmental conservation efforts," he noted.The Association, he added, was committed to ensuring that even regularised portions remained under Ramsar designation to guarantee compliance with conservation goals.Mr Boye-Doku appealed for clemency from government, emphasising that the demolition affected not just physical structures but homes "filled with memories, hopes, dreams and investments of fellow Ghanaian brothers and sisters."He recalled that several stakeholder engagements had been held in 2021 and 2022, which paved the way for agreement on a generally accepted boundary in 2023.However, he said the absence of clear communication and knowledge gaps at the community level had led to unintended encroachment."We are ready to engage further with government and environmental authorities.
A more lenient approach, coupled with community commitment, will serve the greater good by safeguarding both the wetlands and the livelihoods of citizens," the Chairman said. BY CECILIA YADA LAGBA
