Why I blocked AMA demolition exercise at Bukom – Nii Lante Vanderpuye
Member of Parliament for Odododiodoo, Nii Lante Vanderpuye, has explained why he prevented an Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) taskforce from demolishing structures in his constituency over the weekend.
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Following floods which caused the death of over 150 people in Accra last Wednesday, the AMA has begun demolishing structures which it says are on waterways, inline with expert assessments to the effect that the placement of houses on waterways is a major cause of flooding in the capital.
When AMA’s taskforce got to Bukom, however, it was prevented from carrying out demolitions by angry residents.
The MP of the area, Nii Lante Vanderpuye, later directed the task force to halt the demolition exercise.
In an interview with Accra-based Joy FM, Mr Vanderpuye defended his conduct, saying that the structures the AMA sought to demolish were not on waterways.
Moreover, he said, the AMA had not given owners of the structures prior notice before embarking on the exercise.
Mr Vanderpuye said: “Those structures are not permanent structures in the area. They are not in the waterway. We are talking about tables, chairs of waakye sellers, kenkey sellers, lotto kiosks and the rest.
"It is only fair and proper that if even you serve notice three months ago, on the eve of the exercise you remind them of the notices earlier served.
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"It is not right; it is not fair that you will just get up and demolish things without giving adequate notice."
He said while he was in support of demolitions to prevent flooding in Accra, only structures on waterways must be affected.
When he was asked how he knew that the structures the AMA attempted to demolish in his constituency were not on waterways, Nii Lante said: "I am the MP for the area. I know all the areas in Accra where we have problem with floods."