... In His Bid to Clear the City Of Slums,

By- Mohammed Saani Ibrahim



Nii Dodoo Nsaki II , second from left

The Chiefs and people of the Ga Traditional area have expressed satisfaction at the steps and actions being taken by the Mayor of the Accra to rid the Metropolis of filth.

At a press conference organized by the Chiefs within the Ga Traditional area, led by Nii Dodoo Nsaki II, Acting President of the Council and the Otublohun Mantse, the chiefs indicated that since the Mayor begun clearing the city of slums, the Greater Accra has been considered blessed.

According to Nii Dodoo Nsaki II who addressed the media, the chiefs are offering their unflinching support to the Mayor to continue with his action against filth and demolition of slums and illegal structures.

"Yes, we want to add more grease to his elbows in his efforts at bringing sanity to bear in Accra. We are one spirit with him in the demolition exercise that went on at Abuja, parts of Agbogbloshie and Mensa Guinea in recent times."

According to Nii Dodoo Nsaki II, they are asking for more of such demolition exercises since according to him, "Accra needs a sanitized and clean image that would mirror the true capital that it is."

He mentioned that, places like Sodom and Gomorrah and King Nshornaa must not be allowed to exist. He raised salient questions as to t why these slums are still alive even though there have been several court orders for their demolition.

"Why is it difficult to have Sodom and Gomorrah demolished much as there are two court judgments’ that have sanctioned its demolition? he asked.

He also faulted the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Water Company Limited (GWCL) for sitting aloft whilst people take advantage to steal power and water in the slums.

On the issue of Old Fadama, an Accra suburb, Nii Dodoo Nsaki II said, "If planners of the fifties and sixties found it convenient to zone the area for recreational purposes only, why has it been changed to a residential slum?

He also explained that there is an emerging slum at James Town beach which is called King Nshornaa, which is full of make-shift motels, maternity homes, sham-clinics, rickety Pentecostal and Charismatic church buildings as well as unlicensed schools. These, he said, are all constructed with wooden boards.

Touching on cholera, Nii Dodoo Nsaki II indicated that the City continues to count thousands of cholera cases with much death of patients due to the existence of such places.

"Fact is most of the food vendors and hawkers we see in various communities come from these slums," he said, pointing out that, "...We Traditional Leaders and Principal Elders in Accra are poised at assisting Dr. Okoe Vanderpuije to clean Accra of the filth that has engulfed it."

They believe the Mayor has done his maximum best and needs to be assisted to contribute to a clean city.

They indicated that, there is a herculean task ahead of them as people, and that the hurdles can be surmounted if they channel their energies into supporting the Mayor and the necessary authorities to do the right thing.

A.M.A they assured will be given the full support to organize clean up exercises in Accra to get the city rid of cholera. They announced that , on 13th September, the Chiefs and elders of the Ga Traditional area will lead the Accra Metropolitan Assembly to carry out a clean-up exercise in the Accra Metropolis.

The chiefs called on the A.M.A to develop the areas as soon as they are demolished, since allowing the area to stay fallow will ginger the people to come back.