AMA demolishes structures of Old Fadama returnees
The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) yesterday demolished makeshift structures put up by residents of Old Fadama whose structures were destroyed barely three months ago following the June 3 flood and fire disaster that hit Accra.
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The Accra Metropolitan Chief Executive, Dr. Alfred Okoe Vandepuije, in the company of armed military and policemen, supervised the demolition exercise in the area also known as Sodom and Gomorrah.
All the structures at the buffer area close to the Korle Lagoon were levelled and burnt down.
Affected residents looked on helplessly as their structures were demolished.
Activities of residents of Old Fadama are said to have hindered progress of work on the Korle Lagoon Ecological Project, leading to the June 3, 2015 flood which resulted in the loss of life and property.
Arrests
During the demolition, seven residents of Old Fadama were arrested for allegedly putting up structures without authority.
One of the security officers, Assistant Superintendent of Police Samuel Azugu, told the Daily Graphic that the arrest was to maintain law and order in the area.
He said the alleged culprits would be sent to court today to respond to the charges against them.
Residents of Old Fadama
Some of the residents told the Daily Graphic that they put up the makeshift structures because they did not have any places to sleep.
They claimed that they did not have any intention of building permanent structures.
One of them, who gave his name only as Castro, said the arrest of his fellow residents was needless, since they were only “struggling” to survive in the city.
The Administrator of the Old Fadama Development Association, Mr Abubakari Shei, said the association was not against the demolition exercise, since the space was demarcated to prevent any interference with the Korle Lagoon.
However, he said the AMA should have informed members of the association before embarking on the exercise, since the association was the custodian of the area.
Mr Shei said members of the association had held meetings with the residents on the need for them to pull down the makeshift structures days before yesterday’s demolition exercise.