AMA lied; we weren’t informed about demolitions – Agbogbloshie residents

Residents of Old Fadama have rejected claims that the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), issued advanced notice before  demolishing their homes on Saturday.

The AMA last Saturday rendered thousands of slum dwellers at Old Fadama homeless after destroying hundreds of shacks in a bid to help the desilting of the Korle lagoon.

AMA’s Public Relations Officer, Numo Blafo defended the action 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.”

But two of the residents, Musah Zaide and Abdallah Alhassan on th Point Blank segment on Eyewitness News denied knowledge of any of such meetings.

“The AMA lied, they have never given us any notice, No! They have spoken to us about helping them to create space along the Odaw River and the Korle Lagoon in 2012, so they can dredge it, that one I know about, but they have never talked to us about demolishing our homes,” Alhassan insisted.

Meanwhile some of the displeased residents hit the streets on Monday to protest against the exercise.

The situation turned chaotic when some Police personnel tried to stop them.

Alhassan was happy they protested within their rights but condemned the violent nature of the protest.

“The action was far-fetched. Earlier in the morning I saw a lot of people marching on the streets peacefully and I was happy because they had the right to. They have been sleeping in the open since Saturday but when it degenerated into violence, I was really disappointed,” he said.

“These are people whose homes were demolished at 4:30am without notice. These people were all aware that on Saturday we are coming out to clear the space we created in 2012 so that we dredge the lagoon and that is what they knew, in fact they did not even expect that it will be started at 4:30am. But the AMA showed up with the Military and Police…beating people and dragging them from their homes and demolishing their structures,” he lamented.

For his part, Musah Zaide demanded that “this inhumane act of destroying people’s homes must stop. Women and children, who are sleeping outside on the rain, should be given some temporary shelter whilst it’s raining and affected victims should be compensated.”

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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana

Follow @AlloteyGodwin