The Kumasi Mayor, Richard Ofori-Agyeman Boadi, has directed the eviction of squatters from all public school premises within the Kumasi Metropolis. He is enraged by the chaotic encroachment of school lands by residents and prospective developers.
During an inspection tour of basic schools last week, the mayor, in the company of key officials, including Mr. Francis Dwira Darko, Metro Coordinating Director and Mr. David Oppong, Metro Director of Education, realised that the squatters were using school lands for various unauthorised purposes, including shelter, trading, cargo stations, drug peddling, mechanic workshops, sanitation and religious activities.
Schools visited by the mayor and his team included the Asem Cluster of Schools, Amankwatia Cluster of Schools and Bantama Methodist Primary School, during which he engaged assembly members, head teachers and Ghana Education Service staff in discussions.
He said the misuse of the lands does not only defeat the intended purposes of these lands, but also obstruct effective academic activities, as well as raising serious security, moral and sanitation concerns, besides noise pollution by the encroachers.
As a result, the KMA boss has instructed personnel from the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Physical Planning and the Works Department to ensure the eviction of all encroachers on such lands as soon as possible.
