News:
June 24, 2015
Parliament has summoned the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Collins Dauda to brief the House regarding the circumstances leading to the demolishing of homes at Old Fadama aka Sodom and Gomorrah, a slum in Accra over the weekend.
The demolishing exercise which was to make way for the dredging of the Korle Lagoon left hundreds of people most of whom are vulnerable displaced with children and women bearing the brunt most.
The obviously angry victims took to the street on Monday and in the process impeding traffic movement in parts of Accra Central, while another group besieged Parliament House and vandalized some buses parked at the forecourt of the State House.
Police personnel who were detailed to the State House to contain the situation had a difficult time controlling the marauding crowd.
Concerned by the event of the previous day, the Chairman of the Defence and Interior Committee of Parliament Hon. Fritz Baffoe described the chaotic situation as a serious breach of security stressing that in as much as the victims were entitled to seek redress from Parliament their approach was much condemnable.
On his part, Deputy Minority Leader Dominic Nitiwul who looked visibly worried about the fate of the victims stated that though he not averse to the eviction of the squatters, the manner in which the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) took the action left much to be desired.
He added the AMA must provide a road map for the demolishing exercise with houses to be demolished clearly marked before the demolishing
Hon. Nitiwul who is also the MP for Bimbila who has some of his kinsmen having to come down to Accra and reside in Sodom and Gomorrah after the Kokomba –Nanumba war in 1994, the demolishing should not be targeted at the poor people at Old Fadama and that all other buildings that are situated very near water ways must not be spared either.
“There are big men in the society whose buildings are also in water ways, why is it that the small fries are the only ones being targeted” he added.
The Speaker Rt. Hon. Doe Adjaho after listening to the sentiments expressed on the matter urged the Business Committee of Parliament to invite the sector minister to brief the house on the issue and and also state the way forward after the demolishing.
Meanwhile, the AMA and NADMO is to soon find temporal shelter to protect them from the vagaries of the weather.
Transport arrangements are also being made to convey persons who have decided to relocate to the village.
Kwadwo Anim/GhanaMPs.gov.gh