Lieutenant Colonel Frank Osei Amponsah, commanding officer of the 48 Engineer Regiment, denied allegations that Laboma property owners received no prior notice before the August demolition exercise.
Speaking to JoyNews correspondent Stephen Mensah on Sunday, September 13, he confirmed that owners were notified roughly three weeks before the operation began, with the first communication dated around 5‑6 August.
“The operation was scheduled to start on 27th August, but they had already been notified about three weeks earlier. So, by the time we started, they had had roughly a month’s notice,” he said.
Amponsah added that the regiment had taken steps to avoid collateral damage, allowing owners to remove belongings before demolition and stating no major challenges had arisen from the affected parties.
The exercise follows a 21‑day ultimatum issued on August 7 by the Greater Accra Regional Security Council, directing occupants of the Kpeshie Lagoon buffer zone to vacate. Authorities say the work aims to reclaim waterways, remove unauthorised structures and address flooding concerns in the region.
Some business owners and workers remain concerned about potential losses to their investments and livelihoods, but the regiment maintains that the demolition has proceeded without significant disruption.
