Mr Lawrence Amesu, Director of Amnesty International (AI) Ghana, has called on government to discontinue with forced evictions and comply with international and regional standards of eviction.
Addressing a forum on Stakeholder’s meeting on Slums and Evictions in Ghana, Mr Amesu said most people had been forcibly evicted from their homes without any due process, consultation and
adequate compensation contributing to massive economic hardship among the poor in society.
“Years after being forcibly evicted, thousands of people remain homeless and destitute, and many have been driven into poverty,” he said.
Forced Eviction is the removal of people against their will from homes or land they occupy without legal protections and other safeguards.
Not every eviction that is carried out by force constitutes a force eviction, if appropriate safeguards are followed.
A lawful eviction that involves the use of force does not violate the prohibition on forced evictions.
The forum was organised by Amnesty International Ghana to discuss and come out with some suggestions to address this problem.
The initiative also served as the opportunity to hear and learn about the right to adequate housing, right to water and sanitation,
key causes of forced evictions and international standards on evictions.
Mr Amesu said evictions must only be carried out as a last resort; after all feasible alternatives had been explored adding that procedural protections required under international human rights law should be in place.
He said Amnesty International was worried about the thousands of people living and working next to railway lines in across Ghana who
would be forcibly evicted to make way for the redevelopment of the railway system.
“We are not opposed to development. However, there must be genuine consultation with all potentially affected people when considering plans for urban renewal, redevelopment, upgrading or demolition of slums,” he said.
Mr Briamah Farouk, Executive Director of People’s Dialogue, said forced evictions could have implications for the enjoyment of several
human rights, including the right to education and personal security.
“It often results in children’s education being interrupted or completely stopped, people are frequently harassed or beaten. Women
and girls are particularly vulnerable to violence, including sexual violence, before, during and after an eviction,” he said.
Mr Farouk called on government to conduct pre-eviction impact assessments that could help in securing the needs of adequate housing and preventing forced eviction in Ghana.