SODOM AND GOMORRAH CAN'T STALL DEVELOPMENT (SEPTEMBER 6, 2009)

THE Greater Accra Regional Minister, Mr Ishmael Ashitey, has indicated the readiness of the government to demolish the sprawling and famous squatters’ dwelling in the heart of Accra, popularly called Sodom and Gomorrah, because of security concerns.
This move may be good news but one that is long overdue.
For residents or rather squatters of this hotbed of political manoeuvring, however, the move may not be very pleasant.
Indeed reports indicate that the settlers, or for want of a better description, the squatters, have indicated their resolve to resist any attempts at ejecting them from their illegal abode.
We do not want to enter into the debate as to the legal justifications or otherwise of the action being taken against the squatters.
The Daily Graphic’s concern is primarily the inertia of state institutions to enforce by-laws within their jurisdiction and the seeming lack of political will to do what is right.
The problem of Sodom and Gomorrah manifests itself at other slums in every part of the city of Accra and other urban settlements in the country.
From Airport, through East Legon, Dansoman, Tema, name it, every part of the city, be it residential or the central business area, has slums that defy the harmony required among spatial, social and environmental aspects of a city.
The only way we can guarantee ourselves liveable places in Accra and other cities is to remind the people of a popular quote from former President Jerry John Rawlings that; “Our problem is not knowing what is right but rather doing what is right.”
It is this same lack of appreciation for what is right and lawful that today we are confronted with such national challenges like what to do with the squatters of Sodom and Gomorrah. Is it surprising that as a nation, we are where we are because we all have failed in our individual roles to do what is right?
But much as the Daily Graphic blames such state institutions for the lack of professionalism on their part, we equally lay the blame squarely on politicians who, at the turn of every event, would want to use every opportunity to score cheap political gains at the expense of national development.
Our attitude to approaching every thing under the sun with a political eye has led us to take decisions that only go to aggravate our national crisis.
The move by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) should not only be limited to squatters, who mainly are the vulnerable in our society, but extended to include all illegal structures in every part of the country.
While we do not condone acts of lawlessness in our society, we must make it point to ensure that as a state, we adhere strictly to United Nations convention on the right to a decent accommodation.
The Daily Graphic shares in the statement by Helen Keller, who said, “Until the great mass of the people shall be filled with the sense of responsibility for each other's welfare, social justice can never be attained.”
Unless something positive is done now, this group of people in the slums can create social problems for society. That is why the squatters must be foremost in our planning.
It is our wish that the exercise will be carried out in the best interest of the people, and that we will learn lessons from our mistakes and resolve never to look on unconcerned when people flout the regulations on spatial development.