Former Board Chairman of the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), Paul Adom-Otchere, has issued a stern warning to the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) about the ongoing demolition of structures at protected Ramsar sites.
He asserted that the exercise could become a “major campaign liability” in the 2028 general elections.
Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, February 7, Adom-Otchere argued that the government’s failure to provide viable resettlement options for displaced citizens is a ticking political time bomb.
Adom-Otchere noted that while protecting ecological zones like the Ramsar sites is a legal necessity, the manner in which it is executed matters for voter retention.
He compared the current situation to the NPP’s past losses in coastal areas.
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“Today, the NDC is doing Ramsar site and breaking people’s buildings. I bet you, it’s going to feature in the 2028 elections,” he warned.
Drawing from history, he recalled how the Akufo-Addo administration’s demolitions along the Labadi Road led to a significant electoral backlash.
“When Akufo-Addo broke that in 2018 or 2019, the NPP lost there. Labadi, Teshie, and Nungua were completely lost,” he claimed, suggesting the NDC is now on a similar path.
He criticised the standard Ghanaian practice of paying compensation without ensuring actual relocation, which often leaves thousands stranded.
He proposed a shift toward “thought leadership” in urban planning like moving affected communities to areas like Amasaman or Prampram with attractive, pre-built housing.
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He added that the government could also consider offering displaced persons a tangible interest in the new redevelopment.
“If it is your land, you even give them a stake, maybe 10% interest,” he said.
Adom-Otchere reminded the government that even if residents are removed from a site like the Korle Lagoon, their “attachment” to the land remains.
Without a meaningful alternative, he argues, the government is simply trading environmental restoration for a massive loss of political capital.
VPO/EB
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Source:
www.ghanaweb.com
