AMA Rids Circle Of Criminals In Massive Demolition…Korle-Gonno Beach Area Next

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), this week, will begin a massive demolition exercise along the Korle-Gonno Beach in Accra.

Over 30 illegal structures along the Beach, suspected to be brothels will all come crumbling down.

The earmarked structures stretching from the Oceanic Beach Resort at Korle-Gonno through chorkor are said to have been rented out to criminals who terrorize and rape unsuspecting visitors and residents along the old Winneba road at night.

Meanwhile, the AMA last Friday, undertook a massive decongestion exercise that brought down all unauthorised structures at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle Area—specifically areas behind the Vodafone office.

The exercise, which was in collaboration with the Ghana Police Service, has also led to the arrest of several people suspected to be armed robbers.

The structure, mainly built with wood had been erected by squatters some of who were reported to be involved in commercial sex, narcotics trade and other crimes.

However, some traders at the area are up in arms with officials of the AMA and the Ghana Police for destroying their properties claiming, “we are all not criminals.”

A visit to the site confirmed the fears of many as bulldozers tore down kiosks and stalls which had erstwhile served as livelihoods for some of the squatters.

Squatters Speak

Those affected by the decongestion exercise say they were not given prior notice. According to them, a notice would have given them time to secure some of their valuables.

“Some of us were asleep, some of us were also preparing our children for school…they came and arrested some of us…they have arrested a lot of people and sent them away,” one squatter said.

A female squatter who was agitated by the outcome said she had lost everything she owned in the demolition exercise.

“I am just 21 years and I am now starting life and the first time I have struggled to put up a drinking spot, just in three days, the 25 million (GHȻ2,500) I took to set up this business, has gone down the drain,” she lamented.

“We were not even given prior notice that they would come and conduct such an exercise in the hood, they have destroyed our properties…some of us were even set-up…they planted weed in our bags and arrested our husbands for no apparent reason,” another aggrieved squatter bellowed.

The facial expression of the affected squatters reflected the intensity of their ordeal as some were seen yelling at the AMA task force—others were spotted trying to salvage some of their belongings from the wreck.

AMA

The AMA however has justified its actions saying, it needed to sweep off miscreants in the area.

“The reason we embarked on this exercise was because the police got a report that, that particular area had become a den for criminals and that they have been known to terrorise other people. Based on the intelligence gathered over time, we had to move in and assist the police in carrying out this sweep,” the Public Relations officer for the AMA said.

He continued: “The area was set aside by government as a thoroughfare for commercial vehicles coming from Alajo and its surrounding areas but since the construction of such illegal structures, it’s been difficult for drivers to use that road.”

Grace Ablewor Sogbey
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