A scene during the demonstration
Residents of Amrahia Diary Farm and members of Heaven Investment Chapel International on Saturday staged a demonstration in the area to protest against what they describe as the unlawful demolition of their homes and church property.
The protest, led by members of the church and affected residents, was aimed at drawing public attention to the destruction of structures on land which, according to them, were legally acquired and developed over two years ago.
According to the demonstrators, a group of men entered the community and began demolishing buildings, allegedly claiming they had been sent from the Jubilee House and were acting on the instructions of higher authorities.
Many of the affected residents said they had lost properties acquired through years of hard work and sacrifice and, therefore, appealed to President John Mahama and relevant state institutions to intervene and ensure justice is served.
Speaking in an interview with the media, Founder and Head Pastor of Heaven Investment Chapel International, Bishop Prosper Joemens Rohrmiller, said residents and members of the church are frustrated after repeated petitions to the Ghana Police Service, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Intelligence and Professional Standards Bureau (PIPS), and the Office of the President.
He explained that the church purchased six plots of land at Amrahia, fenced the property and commenced the construction of three-storey building intended to serve as an auditorium, office complex and residential apartments.
The demonstration follows what church leaders describe as nearly two months of unsuccessful attempts to get the needed response through petitions submitted to the Presidency and various security institutions.
The petition accused certain individuals who claim to be the owners of a company trespassing and causing extensive damage to the church’s property.
In a petition addressed to the Director-General of the CID, the pastor alleged that management of the company unlawfully destroyed the church’s property, and called for immediate intervention.
“Individuals trespassed and caused unlawful damage to my property without court order or provocation and also claimed ownership of the land without any proper document. I am therefore petitioning your good office for assistance and intervention into this matter in respect of justice,” the petition stated.
A separate petition submitted to the Office of the President described the demolition as a violation of the rights of an entire religious community.
Recounting the events leading to the demolition, the pastor said notices had earlier been posted by a company he claimed was acting under a power of attorney on behalf of another individual asserting ownership of the land.
According to him, although occupants were allegedly given 21 days to regularise their tenancy, excavators moved onto the land less than a week later.
He said the operators initially demolished sections of the perimeter walls before returning the following day to completely destroy the church’s structures.
“They didn’t touch any other property. They went straight to the church property and demolished every building and wall we had put up. Our concern is that a whole property was demolished without a court order, no court authorised that demolition, yet up till now no one has been arrested, we are all Ghanaians and deserve protection under the law,” he stated.
The residents and church members are therefore calling on the Office of the President, the Ghana Police Service and other relevant authorities to investigate the demolition exercise carried out by the unknown individuals and ensure justice for all affected persons.
By Ebenezer K. Amponsah