The Member of Parliament for Sagnarigu, A.B.A. Fuseini, has condemned the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) for the recent demolition exercise carried out at Old Fadama.
The AMA demolished unauthorised structures at the slum area leaving many squatters homeless in the wake of the novel coronavirus pandemic, despite pleas for the authorities to suspend the exercise until after the pandemic or the current lockdown is lifted.
Reacting to this development, Mr Fuseini said: “I can tell you that as soon as the opportunity comes in Parliament, we are going to call on the relevant ministers; Minister for Local Government or the Minister for Works and Housing or other ministries, to come to Parliament and answer.”
“If there are opportunities, some of us will put statements on the floor of the House and the matters arising because it encompasses not just the demolition but the consequences and the aftermath of the demolition,” he told Accra-based Citi FM.
The demolition was to pave way for the dredging of the Korle Lagoon ahead of the rainy season.
Also, Amnesty International has condemned the demolition.
The Campaign and Fundraising Coordinator of AI, Mr Samuel Agbotsey, said in a Facebook post: “How on earth, in the name of God and country could anyone or institution in the name of the state, with the state power and with people’s mandate and power do this?”
“Is it power? Is it lack of sensitivity? or what? How can any institution of state at this time, very much aware of the situation we are in, the President’s directives and the lockdown that encourage people to stay at home as effective means to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, embark on a demolishing exercise of the very homes that we want the people to stay in?”
“What thinking and planning went into this demolishing exercise at this time and what alternative measures were put in place to mitigate the huge impact of the demolishing and protection from COVID-19?”
“Does poverty make you less of a human being or citizen?” he asked.
– Classfmonline
