AMA Gives Squatters 2 Weeks

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has given squatters living in the Korle Lagoon Project area two weeks to vacate the place, particularly Sodom and Gomorrah, Konkomba Yam Market, Onion Market and Galloway because the Government is losing $74,000 dailyfor not making the area free for the project to continue.

Mr. Solomon Darko, the AMA Chief Executive gave this ultimatum in Accra yesterday. He said the second phase of the project should have continued just after the completion of the first phase but the squatters failure to leave the place has impeded the project and the government is losing huge sums of money due to the contract agreement it has with the donor partner.

Mr. Darko said the project area has become a haven for criminals, unacceptable environmental sanitation practices and the squatters have been removing the stones and gravel from the dykes and drains constructed under the first phase of the project.

He said the lagoon has been subjected to environmental abuse by industries and human activities. "In order to find a solution to the problem, the AMA therefore seeks the co-operation of all squatters in ensuring that the areas mentioned are made free from any human habitation and any other activities likely to obstruct the early completion of all the projects," he said.

Mr. Darko said if the squatters fail to comply with the directive, a special task will come in to demolish the buildings on the project site.

He said an AMA committee negotiated with the squatters who are engaged in petty economic activities to be relocated to another area and those who may want to go back to their various homes would be provided buses for their journey.