Tema, Feb 6, GNA- About 500 squatters residing in wooden structures at the forecourt of GHACEM Limited in Tema, were on Monday morning ejected by the police in conjunction with GHACEM officials. The squatters, some of whom had occupied the place for the past 15 years, were engaged in illegal sale of cement and fuel.

The exercise started around 0700 hours and saw the demolition of several structures including vulcanising, fuel and communication shops that had electrical connections.

Dr. George Dawson-Amoah, the Strategy and Corporate Affairs Director of GHACEM, told journalists that the company legally acquired the land from Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority to develop it into a modern truck park.

He said the completion of the project would help prevent accidents as trucks carting goods from the area would use the facility instead of parking by the road side.

Dr. Dawson-Amoah said the refusal of the squatters to vacate the place had delayed the start of the second phase of the project. Deputy Superintendent of Police Daniel Ansong Denkyi, Commander of Ports and Harbours Police, said the team embarked on the exercise after the February 2 deadline issued to the squatters expired. Five Jeri cans of diesel were retrieved by the police during the exercise, and no one had claimed ownership of them yet.