A demolition exercise by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) turned chaotic on Wednesday afternoon after squatters fiercely resisted the pulling down of unauthorised structures behind the COCOBOD building near the Asafo overpass in Kumasi.

The taskforce, backed by police and military personnel, moved in to demolish the makeshift structures, mainly wooden kiosks, which the Assembly says were illegally erected and obstructing pedestrian movement.

Tensions arose when occupants of the structures attempted to halt the taskforce from carrying out the exercise.

Some of the occupants were seen pelting stones and sticks at the taskforce immediately after they commenced the operation.

Despite the resistance, the taskforce proceeded and pulled down several structures.

However, the team was forced to retreat temporarily to avoid being injured by the angry mob.

A member of the taskforce was reportedly hit in the process.

Traders in the enclave were seen salvaging their wares from the debris as the bulldozer moved through the area to clear the illegal structures.

The affected traders argued they had not been served any notice and that the demolition would affect their livelihoods.

“We have been here for years. Nobody told us they were coming to pull down our shops. Where do they expect us to go and sell? This is how we feed our families,” one trader lamented.

The assembly is yet to comment on the development.

Some occupants claimed the land was temporarily given to them by a private developer, identified as Ali, as they insisted on their authorisation to occupy the space.

The demolition forms part of KMA’s ongoing efforts to decongest the Kumasi Central Business District and enforce building and sanitation laws.