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'Sodom and Gomorrah' goes down




..... Gov't acquires land at Adjein Kotoku to relocate residents


By: Raphael Apetorgbor
rapetorgbor@theeventpr.com


Prohibited structures at Old Fadama , a slum suburb of Accra ,popularly referred to as ‘Sodom and Gomorrah’ has been pulled down by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to avoid a reoccurrence of the havoc caused by the June 3 flood and fire disaster.


The illegal occupants of the land and their activities have mostly interfered with the progress of the restoration of the Odaw river project which has stalled for years. 


The project was to improve selected drains in Accra focusing on the Odaw River Catchments area to mitigate the flooding problem in Accra.
The Metropolitan Chief Executive, Dr Alfred Oko Vanderpuje told the Daily Express that the assembly wants to protect the residents from the dangers of floods that had consistently washed many houses and claimed many lives.  

He added that the assembly had resolved to clean the capital city of structures that were defacing its natural beauty.


Dr Oko Vanderpuje who doubles as the President of the World Alliance of Mayors and leaders of Africa and of African descent however warned against indiscriminate refuse dumping in drainages and water ways, as defaulters will be sanctioned.


Touching on dangers associated with building on waterways, he made mention of flooding, outbreak of communicable disease which may led to death.


“Government is also committed to protecting the environment in line with best practices for tackling climate change” he stated.


The Mayor encouraged the  people to consider the greater good and look beyond the momentary pain occasioned by the loss of the structures.


Meanwhile, scores of people on Monday took to the streets to protest against the demolition, saying they had little information prior to the exercise. They also claimed they had no place to go.


In another development, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Hon. Nii Laryea Afotey-Agbo has said government has acquired acres of land at Adjein Kotoku in the Ga West District of the Greater Accra region to relocate all the affected residents.


According to him, the government has already sent a delegation to the Chiefs and traditional leaders in the area to finalize the acquisition. ‘‘We have made the initial effort and we will soon pay everything,’’ he added.


The minister said this on Adom FM, an Accra based radio station on Monday June 22, 2015. He stated that the long plan is to relocate the people and develop ‘Sodom and Gomorrah’.


He said the demolishing exercise at the ‘Sodom and Gomorrah’ will continue in few days. ‘‘We have not stopped the exercise. We waiting for the place to dry out and then continue,’’ he stated.

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