ACCRA, Ghana — Standing beneath the concrete architecture of a highway overpass, the woman who once aspired to lead the district of Abetifi looks not at the structure itself, but at the demolished remnants of her project underneath it.
For the former Member of Parliament candidate, Georgina Opoku, the scene of demolished concrete beneath the bridge was supposed to be the site of a high-tech car wash.
Despite claiming she had secured all the right permits and gone through the bureaucratic process, her investment was literally lying in ruins.
The Paper Trail
The dispute centers on a “particular space” Ms. Opoku claims was vetted by the highest authorities.
The project site was underneath the recently constructed Spintex overpass near the East Legon police station in Accra.
According to Ms. Opoku, she had gone through the right processes, which included sitting through a two-hour orientation with the Highways and Assembly in October 2025.
By November 18, she held what he describes as a legitimate site plan and permit.
“I didn’t forge this,” she said, gesturing to the documents in an online video. “I stood as MP (Member of Parliament) before… I know the rules and regulations. That’s why I did all my documents before starting.”
On Tuesday, February 9th, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Ocloo, who had initiated the demolition, instructed that any existing framework be dismantled and that the site be cleared of all construction materials.
The GHC 50,000 Investment
The financial toll of the project is staggering for a venture that has yet to wash a single car.
Ms. Opoku claims to have spent nearly GHC 50,000 on utility connections alone, including GHC 35,000 spent on electrical infrastructure.
The ambition of the project is reflected in the equipment currently sitting in storage:
- Two automated washing machines: $19,000 each.
- Installation housing: $11,000.
- Raw materials: 2,000 blocks, plus sand, chippings, and cement already delivered to the site.
She noted that she was “forced” to buy two units to secure the manufacturer’s installation team, further deepening her financial commitment to a location that is now under scrutiny.
Conflicting Accounts
Despite Ms. Opoku’s story, Dr Micheal Mensah, Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Ayawaso West, in a radio interview, stated that “no building” was being constructed under the overpass.
He clarified that the Assembly had initially granted a permit for the space under the flyover to be developed into a car park, fire service station, washing bay, and a police post to facilitate parking for visitors.
“We had a team from Urban Roads that visited the Assembly and made a presentation on the plans they have for that space. Based on that presentation, we gave the permit. The applicant was also present,” he said in the interview.
He further stated that the applicant did not comply fully with the condition to coordinate with Urban Roads, which led to concerns being raised about the structure.
He also stated that the permit that allowed for the space to be redeveloped into the car park has been revoked.
A Political Appeal
The conflict took a sharp turn in December when local assembly members informed her that the land allegedly belonged to the “Despite” group—a powerful corporate entity.
This revelation has left her in a state of defiant desperation.
“I cannot drag with the government,” she admitted, acknowledging the futility of a legal fight against the state. “But I don’t think if I cannot build here, anyone else can build here. If it is empty for me, I am a Ghanaian; it should be empty for another person.”
In a final, emotive plea that has become a hallmark of local land disputes, Ms. Opoku bypassed the bureaucratic channels that failed him, appealing directly to the nation’s highest offices.
Invoking the names of the President and former First Lady Lordina Mahama, she framed her struggle not just as a business failure, but as a test of the state’s “fatherly” compassion.
This article was edited with AI and reviewed by human editors
