“This is the Major decision since independence” — Accra Mayor

The Mayor of Accra, Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, has stated that the demolition of some parts of the Old Fadama slum is the most significant decision taken on the capital city since independence.

The mayor has since Saturday led the demolishing of parts of the Old Fadama slum, popularly called Sodom and Gomorrah. Like the agama lizard which fell from the high iroko tree and nodded in praise of his bravery, the mayor is touting his action as unprecedented.

“Look, I am telling you, so far as I am concerned, this is the major decision that has been taken since independence to save people in the city,” Mr. Oko Vanderpuije told Joy FM’s Kwakye Afreh Nuamah in an interview.

Mayor of Accra, Alfred Oko Vanderpuije

“We are achieving the objective. The time has come for the situation to change because that situation is not helping anybody. One day it may rain and wash the people away,” he said.

The mayor said some residents of the slum have said they will go home so the Accra Metropolitan Assembly would provide buses and give them some money.

“We are making buses available to them as we speak. And we will give them some money,” he said.

The MP for the Odododiodoo Constituency and Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Nii Lante Vanderpuye, as well as executives of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the area have accused the mayor of going beyond his bounds. They are worried the mayor’s action will affect the fortunes of the party in the next election. They have described him as a “wicked” man who has no “feelings” for the people.

Their accusations intensified after some residents of the slum went on rampage yesterday and marched to the State House to present a petition to the President.

The minority in parliament has also described the exercise as a face-saving measure by the mayor to mask his failure in managing the city.

But the mayor believes the demolition is achieving its intended objectives. He said, for the first time, some residents of the slum have expressed their readiness to go back to their hometowns.