Part of Soldier Bar, a popular brothel at Kwame Nkrumah Circle, Accra, was Wednesday destroyed by the Accra metropolitan Assembly task force. The brothel known for harbouring child prostitutes was destroyed as part of a demolition exercise being undertaken by the city authorities to decongest the city. Other unauthorized structures around Soldier Bar were also destroyed including those in areas like Accra Central and Adabraka. The infamous bar came to the limelight after investigative journalists uncovered the nefarious activities that were going on at the place, which was initially built for a ‘chop’ bar and a drinking spot. According to the Mayor of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), Mr. Alfred Vanderpuije, the assembly’s action on the bar, which happened unannounced, was as a result of incessant “criminal activities” that have been going on there. "Late night at about 11pm we continue our attempt to decongest the city, went back to the Central Business district of Accra and continued from where we left off, all the way through the central police station area to the NIB area into Circle and then followed it up with the demolition of the Soldier Bar and its activities where children are being exploited and high level of crime organizations and activities in the vicinity. So there was the need to put the safety of the public above the interest of any single or group of individuals” Some of the affected shop owners at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle told Joy News they have contracted bank loans to run their businesses and wondered how they would be able to pay back. “We are stranded now”, a chop operator lamented; “surprisingly, the main Soldier Bar structure, the main reason the task force came has not been demolished.” A woman also noted that her cooking utensil, gas cylinders, food stuff among other property have been trapped under the debris. She said due to the unannounced nature of the exercise, which happened at midnight, they were not able to salvage any of their belongings. Joy News’ reporter, Stephen Anti, said the illegal wooden structures in the area had inscription on them indicating that they were supposed to leave the place by June 15 this year. A similar demolition exercise took place in the Central Business District of Accra on Monday. Story by Isaac Essel/Myjoyonline.com