Stranded And Desperate

Many of the displaced residents of the Sodom and Gomorrah slum are said to be stranded in Tamale, unable to make the final lap to their various towns and villages.

Some of them have pointed at places like Bimbilla, Kpatinga, Gambaga and other areas in the North as their termination points—so close, yet difficult to reach.

Given the manner in which they had to leave Accra – under a state of emergency – they are financially incapacitated and would need humanitarian intervention to end their predicament.

Illnesses and frustration are their lot, with nobody to turn to for support as the mothers among them clutch their babies sorrowfully.

Some were saving their monies with daily susu collectors and had to forfeit these savings to avoid further inconvenience related to their hurried exit from Accra.

We have learnt about the paltry assistance which is said to have come their way since the demolition date, their MPs not showing any interest about their plight. The little support that has come their way is not enough to render the desired succour for the distressed persons as they whinge about their near state of hopelessness.

Let those who can help do so, especially as we are in the Islamic month of fasting and most of them belong to the faith.

As we noted earlier when the demolition took place, it is not our intention to defend the occupation of the slum by squatters but the fact that politicians had assured them that they would not be removed from the place, it behoves the authorities to seek alternative arrangements for them.

For the first time in the history of post-independent Ghana, we have internally displaced persons on our hands, the creation of self-seeking politicians.

Next time government seeks to embark on any such project, let them make alternative arrangements for the relocation of the displaced before moving earthmoving equipment to the place of the project.

The Kufuor regime module was a fantastic one. Recently, Hon Boniface Abubakar Siddique, who was associated with the project, recalled the elaborate stress-free arrangement put in place when the relocation of the slum settlers was about to be implemented.

Adjen Kotoku along the Nsawam road from Accra was the location in which so much money had been expended. The place was furnished with the necessary infrastructural amenities. Local devious politics, however, killed the project.

It is instructive to note that the government, which kicked against the relocation, is now considering returning to the module for the eventual relocation of the remaining residents of the slum. Whether that would be feasible or not is yet to be seen. So much water has passed under the bridge since then.

Is the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) waiting to be prompted to go to the aid of the stranded and sick returnees?

It is sad that politicians who used these unfortunate persons during the campaign season for their selfish political ends have today turned their backs on them as though they do not matter.