Structures Along Rail Lines to Be Demolished Soon, Residents Warned!

Naa Betty Mingle

The Railway Development Authority, together with the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), has warned hawkers and residents around railway lines to pack and vacate the area, since they would soon embark on a demolition exercise.

According to the Chairman of the Railway Development Authority, Mr. Dan Markin, structures and houses should be built 160 meters away from the railway lines, so they do not pose any danger.

He made this statement when some officials of the Railway Development Authority, contractors, and the AMA visited some railway stations to measure distances, and serve notices to the hawkers and residents about the impending demolishing exercise.

The places visited and measured were the Accra Railway Station, Circle Railway Station, and the Alajo station.

He disclosed that China had pledged to support Ghana’s railway lines systems, on which construction work would begin next month.

He there was the need to clear structures which are close to the lines before the Chinese contractors even begin inspection, which would be done by a Chinese company called China National Machinery Equipment Import and Export Corporation.

He pointed out that Railway Development Authority had already serve notice on October 10, 2009, “but President Mills pleaded for an extension, saying that they should be allowed to pack their belongings properly, but till date, they are still going about their daily duties.

He thinks one and half years grace period was enough, and thus they need no time, saying, “I guess you have gotten enough time to pack, and so we are serving the last notice, the next time you see us here, we are coming for a demolishing exercise.”

He therefore, called on the public to cooperate with them, and move their belongings before it is too late.

Mr. Martin mentioned that the assets, when built will be properly maintained, as their authority would join the Ghana Railway Authority to maintain it.

Mr. Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, Mayor of Accra, added, “Ghanaians should be given a facelift in developing centers, and a railway is not excluded.”

He said the AMA would do its possible best to ensure that the structures are demolished, adding that the railway space needs to be available in February for construction to begin.

He said a mobile van would be going round making an announcement that residents staying along railway lines should vacate for construction to begin, while the AMA would also go on afterwards to demolish the structures.