Old Fadama demolition exercise insensitive-Amnesty International

Amnesty International Ghana has expressed worry over the demolition exercise at Old Fadama (Bimbila Station)carried out by the Ministry of Water and Sanitation and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA).
The demolition exercise according to Amnesty International Ghana has rendered hundreds of people homeless at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and that the decision flies in the face of  the presidential directives for partial lockdown and social distancing.
“This is the time we expect all government institutions and agencies to work together to support government’s effort to fight the COVID 19 pandemic. A demolition by these government agencies at the height of fighting a pandemic is uncalled for and puts into question government’s commitment to provide the needed protection for the most vulnerable people in this slum,” Mr. Robert Akoto Amoafo said during Amnesty International Ghana’s visit to the slum (Old Fadama) where the demolition took place.

Meanwhile, Amnesty International Ghana has called on AMA and the Ministry of Sanitation to immediately halt further demolition at Old Fadama or make alternative arrangements to relocate the residents before continuing any demolition in the community.
“They should as soon as possible provide a temporal place to lodge the residents who have been rendered homeless by the current demolition and to ensure their safety and more importantly from the possibility of contracting or spreading the disease,”Amnesty International Ghana added.

Below is a statement:
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL GHANA PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release DEMOLITION EXERCISE AT OLD FADAMA IS UNTIMELY AND INSENSITIVE TO HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION OF THE MOST VULNERABLE IN GHANA’S FIGHT AGAINST COVID 19 16th April, 2020, Accra, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL GHANA is alarmed at the untimely and insensitive demolition exercise at Old Fadama (Bimbila Station) carried out by the Ministry of Water and Sanitation and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) which has rendered hundreds of people homeless at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and the presidential directives for partial lock down and the need for social distancing.
“This is the time we expect all government institutions and agencies to work together to support government’s effort to fight the COVID 19 pandemic. A demolition by these government agencies at the height of fighting a pandemic is uncalled for and puts into question government’s commitment to provide the needed protection for the most vulnerable people in this slum”.
Mr. Robert Akoto Amoafo said during Amnesty International Ghana’s visit to the slum (Old Fadama) where the demolition took place.
All governments and other actors involved in responding to the COVID-19 epidemic must ensure that international human rights laws and standards are at the centre of all responses to COVID-19, in order to best protect public health and support people who are most at risk of adverse impacts.
We therefore call on the AMA and the Ministry of Sanitation to immediately halt further demolition at Old Fadama or make alternative arrangements to relocate the residents before continuing any demolition in the community.
They should as soon as possible provide a temporal place to lodge the residents who have been rendered homeless by the current demolition and to ensure their safety and more importantly from the possibility of contracting or spreading the disease.
Government should ensure that all government agencies and institutions take into consideration the current COVID 19 pandemic in their efforts to implement government’s strategies and plans.
#StayHome #StaySafe END Contact for Amnesty International, Ghana: Mr. Robert Akoto Amoafo Director Amnesty International, Ghana +233246628059 1

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