AMA returns to crash mushrooming structures at Old Fadama [Photos]

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) returned to Old Fadama, popularly known as Sodom and Gomorrah, to tear down illegal structures that started springing up after previous demolition exercises in June.

Following the June 3 flood and fire disaster that shocked the nation, the AMA, headed by Mayor Oko Vanderpuje embarked on several demolition exercises across the city to avert similar unfortunate events in the future.

However, the residents of Old Fadama started rebuilding and putting up makeshift structures at the site where the demolition took place earlier this year.

The AMA is unhappy with the development and moved in to clear these structures before they evolve into permanent ones.

According to Chief Okai, head of operations at the AMA, who was supervising the demolition, “the ongoing exercise is just a mop up; old structures are not being demolished.”

He further indicated that, technicians and engineers from the AMA will subsequently carry out reconnaissance surveys at the area in order to develop it.

Though the residents did not physically resist the demolition exercise they expressed their anguish saying, they have nowhere else to go and no shelter over their heads hence the government should intervene to help them.

Secretary of the Old Fadama Community, Frederick Opoku in an interview with Citi News, said they are in full support of the current exercise being carried out by the AMA.

“This is not a community, where you can perpetrate any illegality and expect to go with impunity,” he added.

According to him, they are ready to integrate the affected persons into the Old Fadama community if they are interested.

The AMA however has still not demarcated clearly the point beyond which the settlers cannot build.

Also, silt dredged from the Odaw River has not been cleared from the area.

This will result in the silt being washed back into the passage, leaving one to question the intention of dredging in the first place.

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By: Kwame Botchway/citifmonline.com/Ghana