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Improve Osu, Awodome cemeteries
security – GEAA urges AMA
Accra, Jul 12, Ghanadot/GNA -
The Ghana Environmental Awareness Association (GEAA), a
Non-governmental Organisation (NGO) has called on the Accra
Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to improve the management and
security of the Osu and Awodome Cemeteries in Accra.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) after an inspection
of the two cemeteries by members of the Association, Mr.
Theophilus Neequaye Djanie Magoah, National Organiser of
GEAA, urged the Assembly to ensure the proper land
management of the graveyards to last longer.
He noted that, from the haphazard way land at the cemeteries
were being used, “It would not be a long time from now and
there will be nowhere to bury the dead”.
Mr. Djanie Magoah suggested to the AMA to adopt the
management practice of the Military Cemetery adjacent to the
Osu Cemetery to economise land use at the two graveyards and
to improve their scenic and aesthetic view.
“The cemetery is the final resting place for man and
relatives should not encounter any difficulty in locating
the graves of their late loved ones just to drop a flower”,
Mr. Djanie Magoah stated.
He expressed the concern of the GEAA about the activities of
grave looters and blamed them on the lack of adequate
security at the cemeteries especially in the night.
The Association appealed to the AMA to beef up its Sexton
Unit and to provide more security personnel at the
cemeteries, which he said had become the “The den of
thieves, robbers and drug peddlers”.
The GEAA also urged the Police-Military night patrol teams
to extend their activities to the cemeteries to assist the
security personnel stationed there.
Mr. Djanie Magoah said the Association had purchased some
electricity poles and accessories to help provide lights at
the cemeteries to curb the activities of the grave looters
and other criminals.
He called for a meeting of the traditional authorities,
churches, Moslem groups and other stakeholders with the AMA
to find a solution to the security and land management
problems at the cemeteries.
Mr. Djanie Magoah said the NGO with the assistance of the Ga
West District Assembly had carried out a survey to sink
boreholes in the rural communities around the Amasaman area
to provide potable water.
He stated that the Association was in contact with the
German Embassy for funding for the project to curb
waterborne diseases in the area.
On behalf of the GEAA he commended the AMA for enforcing its
“Stop Work and Remove” order on the development of one of
the two buildings, which posed a threat to the public at Cow
Lane in Accra.
The National Organiser of the Association stated that the
GEAA had called the AMA’s attention to the danger the two
structures posed to the public and noticed that construction
had stopped on one with the developer complying with the
“Remove” order while the other seemed to have been “Just
abandoned”.
The Association appealed to the Assembly to ensure that the
developer of the other building also complies with its order
to protect lives and property.
GNA
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