More unauthorized structures downed; tears galore

Source: myjoyonline.com  -  The Accra Metropolitan Assembly is continuing with its campaign to remove structures sited on water courses.

Several unauthorized structures were Sunday morning pulled down at Adedenkpo, near the Accra Timber-market at Old Fadama by the taskforce of the AMA.

The Assembly is not relenting in its plan to eject slum dwellers from the area despite protests.

Sunday morning excavators rampaged through ramshackle structures which served as home to hundreds.

All the residents are squatters accused by city authorities of interfering with the free flow of water when it rains by siting their structures on waterways.

Joy News’ Latif Iddrisu said he was drawn to tears when a lady cried out in anguish after her structure was pulled down.

Where will I go from here, she asked amidst tears.
The lady said two of her children are entering Junior High School this year whilst two others are in Senior High School.

She is only able to pay their school fees because of a small business she runs in the area, she said.

The AMA nonetheless is determined not to allow the June 3 floods and fire disasters that claimed more than 150 lives to recur even if that will cause some pain.

AMA Chief Executive Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, was present himself to supervise the operation.

There were heavy police and military presence, Latif reported, to deal with violent resistance.