Lives of Staff and students of GLISS threatened by ECOMOG slum dwellers over impending demolition – Nsemkeka
Staff and students of the Ghana Lebanon Islamic Secondary School live in fear following threats on their lives by persons living illegally at the ECOMOG slums at Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra.
It comes after an attempt by the Regional Coordinating Council to demolish the slums under GRIDCO pylons last week was halted for logistical constraints, an attempt the illegal occupants attribute to pressure from school authorities.
Earlier, the illegally constructed wooden structures sitting beneath the electricity pylons were marked by the RCC for demolition by 2nd June, 2025.
Secretary for the Haqqul Mubeen Institute, an interest party in the school’s PTA, Abdulraheem Mohammed, explains that the threats were issued after an attempt by the authority to demolish the structures after the expiration of the demolition notice.
“The equipment to be used for the demolition also delayed so they couldn’t complete the activity. We also learnt that some political forces came in and stopped the work,” he said.
Mr. Mohammed added, “The slum dwellers gathered in front of the school and started issuing threats, claiming the school has instigated the demolition of the slum. They said they will attack the staff and students.”
According to the authorities, it took police intervention to restore calm and prevent the slum dwellers from carrying out their intentions against the students.
Though there isn’t any construction ongoing, those who have settled in don’t look perturbed by the eviction notice and subsequent attempt.
In a safe distance from the pylons is the Ghana Lebanon Islamic Secondary School which has existed for about two decades.
According to authorities, series of armed robbery incidents have been recorded in the school since the slum sprang up.
Mr. Mohammed is worried about the illegality being perpetrated in the slum.
“Somewhere last week, there was an altercation between some of the people in the slum and it resulted in gunshots. If it has gotten to an extent that these people can use guns in this area, then the school and the environs are not safe,” he emphasised.
Over the years, attempts to demolish the structures in the area have proven futile.
A few months ago, fire ravaged the area, a situation many thought would have ended the existence of the slum.
The Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) had issued warnings and restrictions on construction under its pylons following the fire outbreak on June 5, 2024, but little has been achieved.
The Haqqul Mubeen Institute is mounting pressure on the government to halt the illegality.