Sodom and Gomorah: Oye Lithur demands human face in eviction

Nana Oye Lithur Human Rights advocate, Nana Oye Lithur has called for a human face as city authorities threaten to evict residents of Sodom and Gomorah. The resident have one week to leave the area or have their belongings run over by bulldozers. Describing their presence there as a security threat, Alfred Vanderpuiye, boss of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly said residents will receive no compensation after the eviction. The residents say they have no where else to go. In an interview with Joy News, Nana Oye Lithur said throwing over 40,000 residents out without providing alternative housing facility creates even more serious security implications. She argued the state must refrain from forced eviction, if it has failed to provide adequate housing, adding, the action will worsen the living conditions of the people. He said the one week ultimatum given by government is in contravention of the United Nation’s Convention on the right to adequate housing. Under that convention, which government is signatory to, squatters are to be given 90 days notice before eviction. Oye Lithur advised government to consider negotiating with residents of the area as started by the previous government for an alternative accommodation for the squatters. If that fails she advised the squatters to proceed to the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice for redress of their grievances. Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana