Some Victims of the recent demolitions of structures along the Korle Lagoon at Old Fadama, a slum area in Ghana’s capital, by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly have shared harrowing experiences with a call on the government of Ghana to come to their aid.

According to them, they are suffering because life has become difficult for them after experiencing a triple agony of fire outbreak, demolition and the challenges of Coronavirus.

“The demolition is not good and favourable, we have been informed about coronavirus and government has asked us to stay home and they have demolished our shelter, where do they want us to us sleep?,” a victim told Newswatchgh.com in an exclusive interview at Derby Avenue, Accra during a presentation ceremony by Caritas Ghana on May 2, 2020.

Caritas Ghana with support from Star Ghana Foundation presented a token amount ranging between GHc100 to GH¢200 totaling GH¢20, 000 to 160 families comprising 630 people who were victims of the demolitions.

The leader of the victims of the demolition of structures along the Korle Lagoon at Old Fadama, Yussif Alhassan Antabayim, told the newswatchgh.com that “the demolishing had displaced many and rendered us homeless, a challenge that had brought us suffering.”

He revealed that, “prior to the demolishing, fire had engulfed some of the wooden structures which had enabled the affected people to relocate to join others in their wooden structures, resorting in about eleven or more people sleeping in one room.”

He averred that should coronavirus get to Old Fadama slums, it will spread like wildfire. Hence, his appeal to government to support them financially or to return them to their hometowns mostly in the five Northern Regions, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.

Twenty-seven-year-old lady, Amina Iddrisu, who formerly traded in shoes in Accra Central said “the demolition has made her sleep under canopies”, adding that “I am happy about the support which will cushion us to live a dignify life.”

Amina, currently unemployed and a mother of one, said the demolition had indeed affected many especially the females whom some live in small rooms with nine other ladies who pay GHc10.00 every week.”

She told newswatchgh.com that “living in Accra is very expensive and due to the lockdown and suspension of many activities, we are suffering.”

Okada rider Abu Abass like many of the victims indicated that the unfortunate incident had made life hard for many in the capital with some even sleeping in the Mosque around Old Fadama.

Another Okada rider, Mumuni Mohammed also appealed to the government to make arrangements for them to return to their various hometowns, saying that “At our hometowns, at least we will get a place to sleep and our parents and other relatives can help us survive until the lockdown is over here [Accra]. We want to go back to our hometowns because, now we are not working and for this place, you pay for everything.”