Old Fadama residents kick against relocation following unrest

The Old Fadama Development Association has rejected suggestion by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), David Asante Apeatu, for residents of Old Fadama (Agbogbloshie ) to be relocated, saying it will not address the recent unrest in the area which claimed two lives and injured many.

Speaking at a news conference Thursday, Secretary of the association, Fredrick Opoku, criticised the IGP, saying it is not possible to relocate 16 ethnic groups residing in the community.

He said: “I think the IGP is wrong this time and I think we have to sit and resolve the matter at the core of the issue and I can tell you that relocation is never the issue. If you move Konkombas here and Dagombas there, what about the rest?”
“If they are not ready, they should let us sit down around a table and discuss issues that can resolve the matter because this is a very sensitive issue that is brewing up in the North so we shouldn’t talk about relocation now. The IGP should sit up and let us come to the table to talk about the issue.”
The IGP has said that relocating residents of Old Fadama will ensure there is peace in the area.
Speaking at a press conference at the Police Headquarters in Accra, he explained that it is a difficult terrain to police.
“It is not very easy at all to gather the intelligence that we may require. We are aware that some crimes are being committed in there and it is such a difficult terrain.”
The IGP said a major solution to the problem presented in Old Fadama “is for us to ensure that the people are relocated.”

“With intelligence, we may gather it, but for 100 percent, we are unable to achieve. These are some of the lapses in intelligence gathering that occasionally we encounter.”

Two people died after a recent clash between Konkombas and Dagombas at the Agbogbloshie Yam Market on Tuesday. Several others were left injured.
Meanwhile, the Minister of the Interior, Ambrose Derry, has directed the IGP to meet with the leaders of the Dagombas and Konkombas at Agbogbloshie in Accra today [Thursday].
This is to help both parties share their grievances with the IGP for a better resolution.