Tension is brewing between residents of Middle East, a suburb of Ashaiman in the Greater Accra Region, and a private developer over a reported takeover of a community football park.

The aggrieved residents claim a plan is underway by some faceless individuals in high places to sell off the last football park they have depended on for about four decades for their social events and other activities to a private developer. 

Speaking to JoyNews’ Carlos Calony, the head of the Residents’ Association in the community, Ian Mortey, said they will resist any move by the supposed developer to take over the park.

“There is this young man called Nana who has encroached on the park, telling us it belongs to him. We suspect that he is fronting for somebody and he had the backing of the Tema Development Corporation, the municipal assembly and other political elements,” he alleged.

However, the developer, Nana Ohenedjan, denied encroaching on the land explaining that his parcel of land only shares boundaries with the park.

“It is a land that has its genuine documents and was acquired through a legitimate process,” he told JoyNews.

Also, the Tema Development Corporation (TDC), says the residents have no cause to worry, explaining that the land purchased by the developer is not part of the park.