Hundreds of traders, plywood vendors, and squatters at Anloga Junction in the Oforikrom Municipality of the Ashanti Region have been left stranded following a high-handed eviction exercise accompanied by armed military personnel.
The demolition, spearheaded by a private developer asserting ownership over the site, was carried out after a 4 September 2026 eviction deadline lapsed.
Displaced residents, many of whom had operated at the hub for decades, were seen salvaging personal belongings and commercial inventory along the roadside, while others loaded surviving merchandise into hired transport vehicles.
The forced eviction comes in the wake of a 1 September 2026 protest organised by the occupiers.
Protesters insisted that the land is state property reserved for a planned road interchange project and accused authorities of wrongfully ceding government land to private interests.
According to the affected occupiers, the sudden arrival of heavy earthmoving machinery and security forces caught many unprepared.
”We held the demonstration expecting authorities to intervene, especially since permit inquiries with the KMA indicated the land was earmarked for an overhead,” said one trader, adding, “Instead, we were told an individual bought part of the site, and immediately following litigation, he arrived to take possession.”
The demolition resulted in widespread destruction of commercial property and reports of opportunistic theft during the exercise.
”All my belongings were destroyed, and thieves stole part of my stock before I could salvage the rest,” stated an engine oil vendor at the site, adding, “We are asking the government to show mercy. We have nowhere else to go, and this site is our sole source of income to support our children’s education.”
Displaced occupiers have, therefore, called on the Ashanti Regional Minister and the government to intervene and stop the eviction.
Meanwhile, Ing. Edward Kwasi Anyam, Municipal Engineer for the Oforikrom Municipal Assembly, clarified that the private developer received approval to construct a transport terminal on legally acquired land, emphasising that this specific parcel is separate from the Anloga Junction interchange project.
Refuting claims that the exercise proceeded without prior notice, Mr Anyam explained that after an initial eviction deadline was set, the Assembly intervened to grant extensions, first to 4 September 2026, and ultimately to 10 September 2026.
He noted that the developer was strictly prohibited from demolishing the area currently used by transport operators, as that portion remains designated for the interchange project rather than private ownership.
Highlighting the broader benefits to the city, Mr Anyam emphasised that the new terminal will help decongest both the Kejetia and Asafo transport hubs while significantly easing overall traffic flow across Kumasi.
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