More than 500 farmers and landlords from 12 communities whose food crops and buildings were destroyed during the construction of the 15-kilometer?Nkawkaw by-pass on the Anyinam-Kumasi Highway has demonstrated against the management of SONITRA Construction Company limited and the Ghana Highways Authority, for the delay payment of their compensation since 2006. The demonstrators wearing red arm bands, holding bottle of?Schnapps, eggs?and singing war songs at Abipotia near Nkawkaw, were from Oframase, Ampekrom, Kofi Sika, Domeabra, Asubone, Abipotia, Amanfrom, Damisikrom, Kwaaman, Awendade, Saafi and Asona?properties?were destroyed.Tema Farmers and alandlordsROAD DEMONSTRATORS
Mr Nyantakyi Korae, a Spokesman for the demonstrators told the journalist at the scene, that they had no response from several petitions sent to Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Highway Authority (GHA), the contractors, ?and Kwahu West Municipal Chief Executive, since the GHA release a warrant paper to them that on 25th September, 2013, last month their compensation will be paid, but up to today, none of them has got their money.
He said although some compensation were paid to some landlords and farmers during the construction of the first phase of the project, no compensation had been paid for the second phase and called on the authorities involved up to?Friday?which is the dead line, that if they didn’t?get the monies, they will demonstrates again to show how serious they are to the World and will make sure know vehicles will cross the road, because they believed the government is fooling them.
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The queen mother of Apesika a sub area of Nkawkaw, Madam Rose Obenewah said her cocoa farm about 4 acres was destroyed, and only half of her compensation has been paid, and the rest?hasn’t?been paid, and urged to mobilized another demonstration against the government if they?didn’t?get their compensation up to?Friday?12th September, 2013.
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Many of them who spoke to the paper, express their worried on how the contractors destroyed their farms, buildings, factories and others, which the government doesn’t care to compensate them to paid their debts, taking care of their family, paid their wards school fees and their rents.
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Some emphasis that, the GHA has keep the release fund in their custody and has the money to buy Treasure bill, thats why they has fail to compensate them, but when the paper went to find out from the?Authorities?of the GHA at Nkawkaw sub station, none of the Officers including the staff were on duty to response.
