In the Ashanti Region, workers of the Ghana Railway Company have vowed to oppose any attempt by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) to evict them from the railway workers’ area. The KMA has marked several structures for demolition as part of a drive to clear the site, directing occupants to leave by 31 December 2026.
Occupants, many of whom have lived there for years, say they will not leave without prior consultation and a clear alternative arrangement. Former Principal Supply Officer Collins Mensah declared, "We will not leave here. A TV station came here recently and told us that the government has not authorised anyone to sell the railway land. It is not that we are unwilling to vacate the area. If the railway becomes operational and new workers are employed, and we are asked to leave, we will be prepared to move out. But until then, we have no intention of leaving this place."
Some residents claim they were told the railway land had been sold to a private developer. Kofi Anwona recounted, "We were told by the KMA that the government had sold the land to an individual and asked us to report to the Assembly. We were assured that we would be contacted if there were any developments and given a date to vacate. Instead, they returned and marked our structures for demolition without prior notice. When we confronted them, the situation became very unpleasant, and we felt the process was not being handled properly."
The Kumasi Mayor, contacted by Channel One News, denied that the land had been sold to any individual or company. He said the Assembly would continue efforts to clear the city of unauthorised structures and other developmental nuisances, urging occupants to abandon what he described as unnecessary bravado and take steps to vacate the area.
As the deadline approaches, the dispute highlights tensions between local authorities and railway workers over land use and the future of the railway project. The outcome will determine whether the workers remain or are forced to relocate.
