Baptist Church seeks compensation as Sofoline road project demolition threatens Abuakwa branch

The Ghana Baptist Convention has expressed concerns over the lack of compensation for one of its branches located at Abuakwa in Kumasi, as a planned demolition exercise threatens the structural integrity of the church building.

The demolition is part of the dualization project of the Sofoline-Abuakwa stretch of the Kumasi-Sunyani Highway, led by the Ministry of Roads and Highways, to ease traffic congestion and reduce accidents by expanding the road into a dual carriageway.

Rev Samuel Owusu Appiah, head pastor of Asomdwee Baptist Church who spoke on behalf of the congregants during a press conference urged the government to address these issues, emphasising the urgent need for compensation to prevent further hardship for affected residents and church members.

“The dualisation of the Sofoline-Abuakwa stretch of the Kumasi-Sunyani Highway is of such great relief to us as a church body, and we commend the government for such a great move. However, we have not been compensated, but the contractor wants to demolish the church building. It is quite unfair that no compensation has been provided.”

“We are pleading and calling on the government and other stakeholders to, as a matter of urgency, cushion us with some funds and compensation. This will ensure that all parties are settled for the smooth construction of the road,” Rev Owusu Appiah continued,

The church members also expressed their concerns about the impact of the ongoing demolition on the congregation, attributing the reduction in church attendance to the deteriorating condition of the building.

The Baptist Convention stressed that while they support the government’s infrastructure development, it is crucial to address the rights of affected parties to ensure fairness and safety during the construction process.

“We are constantly threatened and thrown into panic due to the demolition exercise, which is gradually affecting the structural integrity of our building. The church population has significantly reduced, and we ask the government to compensate us so we can relocate,” Rev. Owusu Appiah pleaded.

Reporting By Lordina Agyemang Duah, Asaase Newsroom, Kumasi

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