GHANA-SLUM/DEMOLITION Thousands left stranded as Ghana destroys slum homes to prevent flood deaths

Record ID: 151861

  • Title: GHANA-SLUM/DEMOLITION Thousands left stranded as Ghana destroys slum homes to prevent flood deaths
  • Date: 20th June 2015
  • Summary: ACCRA, GHANA (JUNE 20, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF BULLDOZERS DEMOLISHING HOMES ACCRA METROPOLITAN ASSEMBLY OFFICIALS STAND LOOKING AT FLAMES AND SMOKE RISING FROM BUILDINGS FLAMES SOLDIERS STANDING NEAR BURNING BUILDING VARIOUS OF PEOPLE'S BELONGINGS ON THE GROUND OUTSIDE (SOUNDBITE) (English) GREATER ACCRA REGIONAL MINISTER, NII AFOTEY AGBO, SAYING: "It is very wrong that
  • Embargoed: 5th July 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Ghana
  • Country: Ghana
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA1SZJ6NLIPC6F3WXURKKODR00Y
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Bulldozers razed hundreds of homes and businesses in the poor Sodom and Gomorrah neighbourhood of Ghana's capital on Saturday (June 20) so the authorities can start widening a lagoon to prevent a repeat of this month's deadly floods.
    Flood control has become an urgent problem for President John Mahama's government since more than 50 people drowned in torrents caused by blocked drains on June 3-4, a tragedy that exposed the country's creaking infrastructure.
    The same night 96 people sheltering from the floods at a downtown gas station died when it exploded in the worst disaster in decades in the West African country.
    The incidents add to the difficulties facing President Mahama 18 months before the government faces voters in what is likely to be a tight election in one of Africa's more stable democracies.
    The government has vowed to end crippling power blackouts this year. It started a programme with the International Monetary Fund in April to restore fiscal stability and rapid growth to an economy powered by oil, cocoa and gold exports.
    City authorities said they were destroying dwellings within 100 metres of the Korle lagoon that borders Sodom and Gomorrah in a preparatory step towards dredging and widening a channel clogged with the capital's refuse.
    "It is very wrong that those who have come to settle here would use the sawdust to fill the Korle lagoon. That is why, that's what has contributed to the floods we had recently. Anytime it rains, this lagoon used to be very big, now look at the size of it, they are filling it on a daily basis. When the incident happen, we went up there with a helicopter and we saw what they are doing," said Nii Afotey Agbo, Greater Accra Regional Minister.
    "We're seriously having meetings with donor countries people to help us get money and put up absolute structures for them. That's what we have been doing for some weeks now, and we are going to raise the money. We'll get it, but we have to look for the land. That's also very important," he added.
    Some residents said security forces sprayed them with tear gas after they threw stones to protect their livelihoods from the bulldozers. By evening, thousands were stranded in the rain amid rubble and household goods strewn for more than a mile.
    "My people say the 100 metres is too much, and they say they will not understand and they (security personnel) also say they will not understand and they will do what they like. So they were destroying things and my peoples also throw stones, and they start to blow them with tear gas," said Hafiz Adamu, one of the residents.
    Mahama told reporters last week the government respected the rights of people living in the neighbourhood, which is part of Agbogbloshie suburb, and would move them gradually, first relocating the local market to higher ground.
    The government's action carries a political risk. Many locals are from northern Ghana and have supported the ruling party, but some residents burned their homes in protest at the destruction, starting a blaze that raged out of control.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register