AMA to relocate Agbogbloshie market at Amasaman
Accra, Oct. 1, GNA - Mr. Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije, Chief
Executive of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), on
Thursday said plans were underway to relocate all commercial
activities at Old Fadama (Agbogbloshie) to Amasaman to pave
way for the decongestion of Sodom and Gomorrah slum in
Accra.
“In the next one or two weeks, all commercial activities at
Agbogbloshie would be directed to Amasaman so that the
decongestion of Sodom and Gomorrah can take place,” he said.
In an interview with the GNA, the Mayor said the Assembly
was also in negotiations with the Electricity Company of
Ghana, Ghana Water Company and other utility providers to
halt the provision of their services to the slum.
He said the deadline of Wednesday, September 30 given to
squatters in the area to produce permits for their permanent
structures had elapsed without anyone being able to do so.
The Mayor commended squatters who had taken heed to the
Assembly’s call to vacate the area, and urged the rest to do
likewise since the decongestion of the area was inevitable.
Mr Vanderpuije reiterated the Assembly’s decision not to
compensate or relocate any squatters but would rather
provide transportation to any squatter who might request for
it.
He said it was disheartening to note that the government
spent over 5,000 Euros a day on the Korle Lagoon Dredging
Project and yet there had not been much headway due to
pollution from the slum area.
Mr Vanderpuije said although the squatters migrated to the
place due to conflicts in the north in the 1980s, they had
stayed there long enough to find decent accommodation.
He debunked rumours that the previous administration sought
funds for the relocation of Sodom and Gomorrah to Adjen
Kotoku, adding that the funds sought were rather for the
relocation of commercial activities at the area.
Mr Vanderpuije said AMA was serious about the decongestion
of Sodom and Gomorrah since it would pave way for the
decongestion of other slums such as Babylon, Abuja, Neopolan
and Old Passport.
“The decongestion of Sodom and Gomorrah would send the
message across that the AMA is seriously bent on
decongesting all slums and emerging ones in the city,” he
added.
The Mayor, who was reluctant to wade into the debate on the
rights of these squatters, said the unsanitary conditions
and activities prevailing in the area defied any human
rights, adding that the Assembly also had rights to enforce
its bye-laws.
“Have the children growing up in that area also no rights to
be brought up in a good environment?” he asked.
He bemoaned the high level of criminal activities going on
in the Agbogbloshie area which, he said, did not augur well
for the development of the city.
GNA
