“The Slum Craze”: Has it just begun?

So it was, that year in and year out, governments put all efforts together in providing what they termed and term, "affordable accommodation" to citizens; So it was that over half a century now, moves have been made to "cleanse" the cities from what the experts call slums and illegal settlements; so it was that in the midst of all these moves and policies to clear chocked cities of the drain of slums and illegal settlements, governments only ended up inciting public rage "AND" so it is, that in the midst of all these strain and struggles, the matter of slums in and around the hideouts of cities still remain "a forever" issue of concern.






With over a million immigrants making their way into Accra without any assurance of a decent and affordable housing; the spate of squatting settlements becomes the order of the day.




According to a survey conducted by the Participatory Slum Upgrading Programme (PSUP), based on the factors of durable housing, access to safe drinking water, sanitation and community overcrowding; 78 slums and over 38% of persons alone exist in Accra and live in slums respectively – The smallest terrestrial region in Ghana.




The result in the massive settlements along these poorly laid out places has seen the human struggle for portable water, transportation, education and health. Sodom and Gomorrah, Old Fadama, Adabraka Odawna, Nima, Chorkor, Mamponse, are among examples of the worst places to ever live in Ghana.




Amidst all these developments and interventions by governments in and out; be they harsh or mild, the fact is that public authorities are losing the fight against The Slum Craze. Government in its quest to rebrand the face of basic accommodation is uprooting the weed by dressing its branches and not uprooting its roots.




The Coastal Lines of Accra are currently witnessing a massive slum development by squatters. These are structures haphazardly constructed with terrible layouts. You may want to take a stroll along the beaches of communities like Glefe and Mpoase in the Ablekuma South Constituency of Accra and what you are likely to fnd will be revealing; a large wave of slums yet to spring up.




I am no pessimist, neither am I a doom sayer. I believe saying it as it is sometimes suffices the truth. In this context of slums, shall I say in clear language that Government, especially the AMA is joking with its quest to wash off the stain of slums from the garment of its reputation.





If the Accra Metropolitan Assembly were to be serious as serious can be, if the AMA is in control as it claims to be, if the AMA were to administer its duties meticulously, these pictures I could not have taken.




Today we have seen how the settlement where a few Ghanaians from the Northern Region immigrated to in flee from war has expanded into Accra’s most popular slums and hub of criminality; Sodom and Gomorah;





Today, we have witnessed how innocent citizens, for lack of decent accomodation, gnash their teeth in blazing fire due to how prone their slum settlement are to fire.




In fact we continue to witness how these settlements, day in and day out, continue to breed hardened criminals of all skill and wit, continue to subject boys and girls into prostitution and worst of dash the dreams of the innocent.




If this was enough for us, AMA, we would, true to form, cut the very roots of this tree.





Twenty years from now, Accra, with this trending stagnation in the quest to root out slums will definitely be one of the worst cities ever to live in globally.




If we are serious as Government; if we care much about our people, if we claim to be that patriotic, oh! If we preach we are a Government of the people and for the people… we must act it !




The best way out in ridding not just Accra but Ghana from the ailing prevalence of slums is simply by ridding our political hearts and souls of blatant lies and empty propaganda and get our hands and minds to work!




The answer cannot be in loans and grants Mr Politician, the answer… is you.