Some residents whose buildings sit on portions of the Ramsar sites in Tema and Sakumono in the Greater Accra Region, have petitioned President John Dramani Mahama to intervene in the ongoing demolitions in the area.
The petitioners contend that their lands were legally acquired from the Forestry Commission, with some claiming they have taken steps to preserve the environment rather than harm it.
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, one of the affected residents, Jerry Narhyumu, stated that while they acknowledge the ecological significance of the area, they do not believe they have broken any laws.
“We have engaged all this while with Henry Quartey, and we have engaged with all the authorities. We are willing to engage. Some of us have dredged the stream in front of our properties. We have rather protected the stream,” he said.
Narhyumu also noted that the area is not flood-prone and that many residents have lived there since 2019 without incident.
He called for continued dialogue under the new administration, stressing the need for policy continuity to find a lasting resolution.
“As we know, government is a continuum, so if the NPP government is gone and the NDC government has come, all we expect from them is to continue the engagement so that we can regularise the land,” he added.
The Ramsar sites are internationally recognised wetlands protected for their environmental value. However, increasing encroachment in recent years has led to state-led demolitions aimed at preserving their ecological integrity.
Affected residents argue that instead of being evicted, they should be allowed to work with authorities to regularise their tenure.
