The Vice President has assured resident of Agbogbloshie that government has not only abandoned plans to eject them but of providing them with social amenities and generally developing the area.

Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has also assured traders at the Agbogbloshie market, especially yam, onion and plantain sellers, of plans to redevelop their sheds and provide a better trading environment for them. 

He gave the assurances when he paid a working visit to the area on Thursday during which he interacted with traders, kayayei and the residents of Agbogbloshie and took keen note of their challenges.

Explaining the rationale behind his visit, Dr Bawumia insisted, "slum dwellers' lives matter. Every life matters to government of President Nana Akufo-Addo. It is the view of the President that you are Ghanaians and you deserve to live and enjoy the services of government just like any other Ghanaian will enjoy.

“In the philosophy of President Akufo-Addo, the life of one Ghanaian is not more important than the life of the other. Every Ghanaian matter. And we are here because the people living at Agbobloshie and old Fadama also matter.”

He added that “The life of the child living at Old Fadama is as equally important as the life of the child living at East Legon. We have to think about and help the poor and vulnerable in society no matter where they live.” 

The Vice President announced a number of key interventions for the area.

This included a skills training programme for up to 2,000 Kayayei, construction of four 8-seater Enviro-loo toilets, 80 bathhouses, a kindergarten, installation of street lights and digital addresses on homes.

The Vice President also announced plans by government to pave the floor of the markets, especially the yam, plantain and onion markets, redevelop their sheds and provide a 23 cubic meter refuse container to address sanitation challenges.  

"Security is an important aspect of human life. Agbobloshie is a community with a population of over 120,000 people. Because of its high level of informality, it is characterized by petty crimes and grand offences.

“It cannot be right that a community of this nature does not have a befitting Police Station. As I said when I visited the Police Post here, we are going to provide a fit for purpose Police Station for you to help in the fight against crime," Dr Bawumia disclosed.

He assured, "We are not saying that we are going to solve all your problems overnight but we are going to do what no other government has done before and provide the critical social services that will make life livable in this community."

He was accompanied by a number of government officials including Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, Minister for Inner City and Zongo Development; Dominic Nitiwul, Minister for Defence; Ambrose Dery, Minister for the Interior.

Also included were Alima Mahama, Minister for Local Government and Rural Development; Samuel Atta Akyea, Minister for Works and Housing, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, Minister for Sanitation; Nii Adjei Sowah, Mayor of Accra, as well as NPP officials including Mr Sammi Awuku, National Organiser of the NPP.