Ghana, Sodom Flex Muscles against evictions

Reports indicate that the current population of the area stands at about 55,000. The number consists of children, pregnant and nursing mothers, physically challenged and the aged.

The occasion, which was supposed to be a press briefing, rather turned out to be a mammoth rally with some protesters running around with placards, with inscriptions like “no Konkomba- no Ghana; no more votes; we are Ghanaians”, among others.

The teeming youth, made up of both boys and girls with different ethnic backgrounds from Northern Ghana, had taken over the Agbogbloshie road, blocking traffic from both sides, to register their displeasure.

Although the police were not informed of such a gathering, the Deputy Greater Accra Regional Police Commander, ACP Christian Yohuno, told DAILY GUIDE, “We came to meet them here this morning and provided security”, noting that no incidence or confrontation was recorded.

During the briefing however, the Spokesperson for the dwellers, Philip Kumah, explained that, “Inasmuch as we want to be, and are law abiding; we don’t want to be refugees in our own country”.

Therefore, he pleaded with government, saying, “We are your citizens and we are reminding you that governments are there to improve the welfare of the entire citizenry, including even squatters.

“We are willing and want to move, not through bulldozers, but through a well thought-out plan/alternative worked out collaboratively”, Mr. Kumah said.

It would be recalled that on September 3 this year, the Mayor of Accra, Dr. Alfred Vanderpuije and the Regional Minister, Nii Armah Ashietey, both visited Sodom and Gomorrah and later issued a statement which announced that the area would be demolished soon.

The statement, according to him, sent shivers down the spines of residents, attracting the attention of local media and the international world.

Mr. Kumah further recounted that in 2002, they had the first eviction notice. “It was then that the Centre for Public Interest Law (CEPIL) instituted a court action to stay the eviction order but the application was refused”.

He said it was pathetic for Dr. Vanderpuije to state on air that, “He will throw us out of this place” and “He does not care what happens”.

This, the Spokesperson stressed, was contrary to President John Evans Atta Mills’; ‘I care for you’ slogan during the 2008 electioneering campaign.

For him, “Our being here is not by choice but by necessity; we must survive. This problem is not about filth, indiscipline or crime; it is about shortage of affordable and accessible housing in Accra”.

He added that being homeless did not make one an outcast or a criminal. Though, “We are not saying it is crime-free, it is painful to hear the Minister address us as criminals. We, at this time, call for that statement to be withdrawn because this is one of the reasons why the people of Adjin Kotoku are refusing to admit us”.

Mr. Kumah, on behalf of the group, noted that even though CEPIL, Homeless International, UN Habitat, Slum Dwellers and other international bodies were working in collaboration to support government to find solutions to slums in the country, he still appealed that government should re-think the decision and should stop using what was described as brutish, counter-productive and unsustainable methods”.

“Allow us all to plan, think and come out with solutions that are socially sound and fits into the ‘I care for you’ slogan”, he indicated.

Meanwhile, Mr. Kumah questioned the whereabouts of a 10 million Euro loan, which was contracted by government for the relocation exercise?

By Nathaniel Y.Yankson

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