Asokore Mampong Affordable Housing Site houses criminals. 16-07-12

         

It is now clear the abandoned Affordable Housing Project site at Asokore Mampong has completely been taken over by squatters, creating a hide-out for criminals and other notorious gangs.

The projects involves construction of 800 flats of 1, 2 and 3 bedrooms on 50 acres of land was initiated by the erstwhile Kufuor administration.

Like other locations in other parts of the country, the project was discontinued following a change in government. 

Nhyira FM’s Kofi Asante visited the Asokore-Mampong site after residents of Adukrom, also in Kumasi, complained members of a gang which attacked them last Saturday live there.

Residents of Aboabo, Sepe-Timpong, Manguase, Asokore Mampong and its surroundings for some time now have been leaving a state of fears following what they describes as “sporadic” attacks by some notorious gangs who are now using the abandoned affordable housing as their hideout. Police am told last month was here for some swoop but they missed their target due to their time of visit.

The facility, which is engulfed in bushy surroundings, is now a safe haven for over 1,000 squatters, mostly traders who were displaced from the Kumasi Race course recently.

My intrractions with some people l met reveals the squatters have allotted to themselves the responsibility of caring for the abandoned housing units, and that each block has a caretaker, who takes some form of rent from them.

Residents in the neighbourhood complained that criminals, including wee smokers and armed robbers, had taken advantage of the vulnerability of the squatters, mainly women and children, and unleash inhuman treatment on them.

The helpless women are constantly subjected to rape and molestations.

Meanwhile, a four unit block and two other rooms are now serving as classrooms for a local Islamic School (Makaranta)

Story: Kofi Asante Ennin/Nhyira Fm-Kumasi