{"id":127375,"date":"2015-06-23T05:46:31","date_gmt":"2015-06-23T05:46:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/4cd.e16.myftpupload.com\/?p=127375"},"modified":"2015-06-23T06:46:27","modified_gmt":"2015-06-23T06:46:27","slug":"ama-lied-we-werent-informed-about-demolitions-agbogbloshie-residents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/?p=127375","title":{"rendered":"AMA lied; we weren’t informed about demolitions \u2013 Agbogbloshie residents"},"content":{"rendered":"

Residents of Old Fadama have rejected claims that the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA),\u00a0issued advanced notice before \u00a0demolishing their home<\/a>s<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0on Saturday.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

AMA\u2019s Public Relations Officer, Numo Blafo defended the action saying \u201cWe alerted them<\/strong><\/a><\/span>. 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

But two of the residents, Musah Zaide and Abdallah Alhassan on th Point Blank segment on\u00a0Eyewitness News<\/strong> denied knowledge of any of such meetings.<\/p>\n

\"IMG-20150620-WA0005\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cThe 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,\u201d Alhassan insisted.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile some of the displeased residents hit the streets on Monday to protest against the exercise.<\/p>\n

The situation turned chaotic<\/strong><\/a><\/span> when some Police personnel tried to stop them.<\/p>\n

Alhassan was happy they protested within their rights but condemned the violent nature of the protest.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe 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,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\"IMG-20150620-WA0001\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cThese 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\u2026beating people and dragging them from their homes and demolishing their structures,\u201d he lamented.<\/p>\n

For his part, Musah Zaide demanded that \u201cthis inhumane act of destroying people\u2019s homes must stop. Women and children, who are sleeping outside on the rain, should be given some temporary shelter whilst it\u2019s raining and affected victims should be compensated.\u201d<\/p>\n

–<\/p>\n

By: Godwin A. Allotey\/citifmonline.com\/Ghana<\/p>\n

Follow @AlloteyGodwin<\/a>
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