Amnesty Int’l condemns demolition at Old Fadama

Amnesty International (AI) Ghana has condemned the action by the demolition exercise conducted by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) at Old Fadama to dredge the Korle Lagoon.

According to the Human Rights group, the action taken by AMA was a violation of human rights and lacks sensitivity.

In a Facebook post by the Campaign and Fundraising Coordinator of AI, Mr Samuel Agbotsey, said: “how on earth, in the name of God and country could anyone or institution in the name of the state, with the state power and with people’s mandate and power do this?”

“Is it power? Is it lack of sensitivity? or what?” Mr Agbotsey quizzed.

He said “how can any institution of state at this time, very much aware of the situation we are in, the President’s directives and the lockdown that encourage people to stay at home as effective means to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, embark on a demolishing exercise of the very homes that we want the people to stay in?”

The human rights activist said, “what thinking and planning went into this demolishing exercise at this time and what alternative measures were put in place to mitigate the huge impact of the demolishing and protection from COVID-19?”

“Does poverty makes you less of a human being or citizen?” he asked angrily.

Mr Agbotsey, therefore, appealed to the government and other human rights organisation to stop the AMA now.

It would be recorded that on Thursday, April 15, 2020, the AMA embarked on a demolition exercise at Old Fadama in Accra where over 1,000 slum-dwellers were rendered homeless after AMA demolished wooden structures to pave way for the dredging of the Korle Lagoon.

Some of the affected residents were of the view that the Assembly should have exercised patience until the lockdown was over.

Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh