Three officers of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) sustained injuries after residents allegedly attacked an Assembly taskforce during a demolition exercise behind the COCOBOD building at Adum, near the Asafo Overpass, on Wednesday, July 8.

The confrontation also resulted in the vandalism of several Assembly vehicles and equipment after residents occupying makeshift structures at the site resisted attempts to remove what the KMA described as illegal structures along waterways.

According to the Assembly, the demolition exercise formed part of efforts to clear encroachments obstructing drainage channels and create access for the desilting of major drains ahead of the peak rainy season to minimise the risk of flooding.

Commenting on the incident, Kumasi Mayor Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi said the attack would not deter the Assembly from enforcing measures aimed at protecting lives and property.

“Our intention is to clear them and then desilt the place. Some of our vehicles have been vandalised. We have lost one pick-up in the process, an excavator was vandalised, and about three or four of our officers were injured.

“There’s no way I will sit down for illegality to prevail. We will repair the damaged equipment and put it back to work,” the Mayor said.

Mr. Boadi added that the injured officers would receive medical attention after the police had completed documentation of the incident.

However, some of the affected residents maintained that they had lawfully acquired the land and accused the Assembly of carrying out the demolition without prior notice.

“We paid money before they gave us the land. Nobody was living here when we moved to this place. The place was only occupied by thieves. We were not given prior notice to vacate the place,” one resident told journalists.