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The Mayor of Accra, Alfred Oko Vanderpuijie is proud of his achievement after shrugging off pressure from various quarters to continue with the demolition exercises in some suburbs of the city.

His outfit demolished some structures at the Old Fadama area, popularly known as Sodom and Gomorrah after the June 3 flood and fire disaster.

Hundreds of shacks were destroyed while thousands were displaced in the process.

The Authority faced a barrage of criticism from various groups and individuals who argued that the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) cannot displace them without providing alternative shelter. 

The Mayor who however sought to justify the Authority’s action, said many Ghanaians were pleased with his decision to pull down those structures.

Speaking to the media after supervising another demolition exercise at Avenor in Accra, Alfred Oko Vanderpujie affirmed the AMA’s  commitment to demolish all unauthorised structures until the perennial flooding issue is resolved.

“People are really happy. People were hailing when Sodom and Gomorrah was demolished.People were hailing when we went to Avenor. Majority of Ghanaians are happy. There will be an end but the objective is to remove all illegal structures on waterways. The objective is to remove all illegal structures on drains and once we achieve those objectives we will stop.”

I don’t owe victims an apology

The Mayor has in recent times been defensive about issues surrounding the fatal June 3 flood and fire disaster.

He recently stated that he owes victims of the disaster no apology.

Speaking in a BBC interview, the Mayor absolved himself from any blame and maintained that the Assembly has invested in major  drainage construction projects aimed at addressing the perennial flooding.

“… I owe them support to ensure that these things do not happen, but I don’t owe anyone an apology. As Mayor I have always done my job. Every year I clean the channels of this city. Last year we did that, the year before we did it. We have built storm drains in the past until we comprehensively build the new drains of this city. I will do some, another Mayor will come and continue.”