The Concerned Citizens Association of Maamobi of Maamobi Number 2 Market Kasoakuda has petitioned the Commission of Human Rights And Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) over the forced eviction of residents within the Maamobi enclave .
The Ayawaso North Municipal Assembly had earlier sent notices of eviction to them, giving them six weeks to vacate.
The Assembly is relocating them to a new site secured for the purposes of relocation, a 10-acre land located at Ayikuma in the Shai-Osudoku District of the Greater Accra Region.
The over 7,000 residents have subsequently rejected the ultimatum and demanded that the government must first extend electricity and water connection to the new site to make it habitable for residents .
According to the petitioners, the Assembly is undertaking the exercise without regard and respect for the provisions of Article 18 and 20 of the 1992 Constitution.
They, therefore, want the Assembly to put a human face to the forced relocation plan and compensate the tenants accordingly.
“As Petitioners and victims of the intended injustice being perpetrated against our Fundamental Human Rights, we would like to state that at no point of the ongoing Stakeholders’ negotiation engagement process that a six (6) week ultimatum decision was discussed or let alone agreed upon.
“The Municipal Chief Executive ( Awal Mohammed) is not above the laws of Ghana and therefore cannot by pass the ongoing Stakeholders’ negotiation proccess and make unilateral declaration in the media when the victims’ very life of existence, Shelter, Livelihoods and security are at stake and must be adequately addressed in accordance with the relevant Constitutional provisions and a mutual agreement based on a Memorandum of Understanding ( MoU) is signed before any date can be fixed for eviction and demolition of their properties.”
The Association is demanding that “all issues pertaining to the terms and conditions surrounding the ownership, acquisition, title and other basic social amenities reminiscent of their existing status including shelter, livelihood , health, security etc. are factored into the proposed Ayikuma land site for resettlement”.
“We are therefore passionately appealing to CHRAJ to ensure the Fundamental Human Rights of the petitioners are adequately protected by the respondents and any decision taken does not make the status of the people worst than they used to be when they resettle at the proposed Ayikuma resettlement site.”