The people of Osu yesterday demonstrated against the demolition of the Osu Traditional Council building at North Ridge, Accra.

The demolition exercise which was carried out by personnel from the Lands Commission, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and armed policemen last Thursday saw office equipment, including computers and accessories, furniture and air conditioners destroyed.

The occasion also marked the sod cutting for the commencement of work on a multi-purpose office building to house the traditional council.

Addressing the people who had gathered on the premises of the demolished office, the Osu Mantse, Nii Okwei Kinka Dowuona VI, asked them to see it as a sign of victory since those involved are fighting a losing battle.

He called on prominent Osu indigenes in the government to support their cause since their struggle is against oppression and injustice on their own land.

Nicholas Nortey Owuo, a youth activist, said the demolition was unlawful since appropriate channels were not used which is first to serve a notice which will indicate date, time and purpose of the demolition.

"It is purely in human and we will urge the elders and the leadership of the council to lodge an official complaint to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice," he said.

Mr Owuo appealed to President J.A. Kufuor to expedite action on the petition the youth presented to him through the Ministry of Chieftaincy on April 25, 2007.

He urged the President to institute a Commission of Inquiry to probe the demolition and the chieftaincy dispute at Osu.

In attendance also were Nii Akonor Tei, Osu Mankralo, Nii Awuley Nfeni, Osu Alata, Nii Astin, Osu Kinkawe Dzaasetse, Nii Nortey Omaboe, Osiahene and youth leaders all clad in red.

The Osu Traditional Council had continuously protested against the allocation of North Ridge Lands to private developers.

To back their protests they undertook an exercise to demarcate the undeveloped portion of the land as belonging to the Traditional Council without recourse to the Land Commission.

The land in question had for a long time been in dispute between the Lands Commission on one hand and the Osu Traditional Council and the Amalgamated Bank on the other. Three years ago it was handed over to the Council following a court ruling.

Source: The Ghanaian Times