Beach Slum Mars Seat Of Government

While the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) is facing the challenges of making the city slums free, another slum is gradually developing at the beach behind the Independence Square adjacent to the seat of government � the Osu Castle. Unlike the other slums, the dwellers of the beach slum use camping tents, while others are gradually putting up wooden structures. A tour around the area revealed that some of the young men (old and young), who have their tents/homes on the shore, are mainly miners of clay. The area is rich in yellow clay, mostly used by porters for making ceramic wares and the popular �Ayilo or shrei� (mostly enjoyed by pregnant women). The manager of the Independence Square told the �Accra File� that efforts to get the city authorities to clear the area had proved futile. He said the AMA has to move in to stop the dwellers from erecting permanent structures on the shore, since when that happens the square would not be safe place for programmes. He said, �Proximity-wise, the location of the mushrooming slum to the seat of government does not auger well for the country.� Bola Beach, as it is known, is gradually becoming a den for criminals and wee smokers, and like most of our beaches is overwhelmed by tones of garbage, with nearby resident using the place as a place of convenience.