The New Juaben South Municipal Assembly in the Eastern Region will pull down the deplorable building belonging to the Koforidua Magistrate Court.
Also, about twenty(20) shops around the court will be affected by the exercise.
The demolishing is to pave way for the commencement of construction of a new court complex to accommodate the two District courts in the Municipality.
The Project will be funded with District Assembly Common Fund.
Former Chief Justice Sophia Akufo during a visit in 2019, threatened to shut down the courts due to the deteriorating condition of the courtrooms.
The affected Magistrate court “A” is temporarily being relocated to the Community center near Melcom Shop.
On March 18,2021 the New Juaben Municipal Assembly held a meeting with the affected squatters about the intended project, and subsequently issued eviction letters with April 12, 2021, as the deadline.
The affected occupants of the earmarked land are mostly operators of shops, chop bars, printing houses, second-hand dealers, tailors’ shops among others.
Many occupants of the affected shops have vacated while others are yet to secure new shops to relocate into.
Owners of some of the container shops constructed recently say the eviction has caused huge financial losses to them.
Among the affected shops is a popular and longest selling newspaper agency – Sowee Newspaper Agency.
Mr. Adjetey Sowah owner of Newspaper Agency lamented that” the eviction is a big blow to my family. Myself and my wife all being evicted at the same time. I have not even been able to secure a shop yet any place to relocate to. The time they gave us too was too short “
The relocation of the Court to the Community center has displaced tennis ballplayers who used to train at the center.
Sports enthusiasts are incensed that the Assembly has failed to get an alternate place for the tennis ballplayers.
Source :Starrfmonline.com/Nana Kojo Ansah