EVICT THESE SQUATTERS (NOVEMBER 6, 2007)

THE Tema Municipal Assembly (TMA) is said to have issued an ultimatum to squatters on a parcel of land in front of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) to quit the place immediately or be evicted.
The move, we are told, follows the refusal of the squatters to quit the area, despite several warnings by both TMA and TOR. Our information also is that the problem dates as far back as 2003 — four solid years now — and that it was part of the recommendations of the committee that investigated the fire outbreak that hit the refinery.
Even though the management of TOR is reported to have gone to great lengths to provide new facilities under more hygienic conditions — all free of charge — for the female traders among the squatters, they have still refused to move, claiming that the new place cannot accommodate all of them and also that they do not make enough sales there.
Chief among the reasons that motivated the committee to order the eviction is the fact that the activities of the squatters are said to be a threat to the plant in particular and the economy of the country in general.
Indeed, it is common knowledge that some saboteurs have found the place a safe haven to carry out all kinds of nefarious activities, including the siphoning of fuel into containers and waiting vehicles. These dastardly acts cannot continue forever and we cannot look on unconcerned.
The Daily Graphic thinks the TMA and TOR have been tolerant enough with the squatters all these years. We, therefore, hasten to suggest that if the current ultimatum elapses, there should be no excuses whatsoever in dealing with the problem on our hands.
We have always advocated that issues of this nature should be handled with a human face, but on this occasion, we think the TMA and TOR have reached their wits end in the handling of the matter.
Four years of dialogue and clemency must certainly give way to some very concrete action and nothing should stop them from carrying out this very important national exercise.
When the squatters are virtually evicted, we hope the two organisations would not go to sleep. They must monitor the area on regular basis to ensure that the people never return to cause further havoc.
TOR uses the state-of-the-art technology in the refinery’s operations. And we cannot allow a few bad lots to destroy such an important national asset.