The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has said it duly informed residents of Sodom and Gomorrah before undertaking a demolition exercise in the area.
The AMA task force and other security services demolished over a thousand structures in the area last Saturday.
[contextly_sidebar id=”pguJa5YVgLGz1CuzBRbl43I08m3uYQfJ”]The exercise was carried out under the supervision of the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo and the Mayor of Accra, Alfred Vanderpuije.
Thousands of the slum dwellers who are mostly migrants from the northern part of the country were consequently rendered homeless, while scrap metals and make shift shops were also destroyed.
The residents who are displeased with the demolition hit the streets on Monday to protest against the exercise.
They say have been betrayed by the government since the AMA failed to notify them ahead of the demolition.
However speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show, the Public Relations Officer of the AMA, Numo Blafo dismissed such reports, saying: “We alerted them. In fact, I will say we were at the Old Fadama area with the members of the Council of State. We have also been having meetings with their opinion leaders and chiefs to pave way for the removal of the structures.”
Dredging of Odaw River
Numo Blafo further explained that the removal of those structures was aimed at paving way for a major dredging exercise at the Korle Lagoon.
According to him, about 100 structures from the Banks of the Lagoon to the Odaw were demolished to that effect, adding that work on the dredging of the river had already taken off.
Re-encroachment
Asked about the measures being taken to prevent residents from returning to the area, Numo Blafo stated that “management will sit down and come to a conclusion” on the next line of action.
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By: Marian Efe Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana