Tempers flared in the Avenor Industrial Area in Accra as dislodged squatters openly invoked traditional deities and rained curses on the Metropolitan Chief Executive of Accra, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, following the destruction of their improvised structures.
The confrontations unfolded shortly after a destructive fire swept through several makeshift residential units and commercial stalls in the enclave.
The Ghana National Fire Service managed to bring the inferno under control, but city task force officials moved swiftly onto the site to clear out the remaining damaged and unauthorized structures.
Devastated by the dual loss of their personal belongings to the fire and their remaining shelters to the assembly’s bulldozers, the aggrieved victims directed their fury towards the local authorities.
Visible outrage swept through the crowd as several residents rained curses on, calling down spiritual retribution on the Accra Mayor and members of the demolition task force.
The victims argued that the timing of the enforcement exercise was insensitive and harsh, given that they were already grappling with the shock and financial loss caused by the blaze.
They accused the municipal authorities of failing to offer alternative accommodation or sufficient notice before carrying out the site clearance.
City authorities from the Accra Metropolitan Assembly have maintained that the emergency clearing exercise was necessary to safeguard public safety, clear unauthorized squatter settlements, and prevent recurring disasters within industrial zones and along critical drainage waterways.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
