STMA to demolish ghettoes at European Town

• Some unauthorised structures (Ghettoes) dotted along the rail lines
at European Town, Sekondi

The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) is set to demolish all unauthorised structures  at the  Sekondi Railway Station, close to European Town, at Sekondi, in the Western Region, where prostitution is said to be thriving.

Over 400 illegal structures are expected to be removed or demolished to make way for the relocation of traders towards the reconstruction of the Sekondi Market.

Although, STMA had explained that the action was to pave way for Sekondi Market Project, the rail line, near the Sekondi railway station, had generated much concern among the security architecture in the metropolis especially on the use of the base for prostitution, which had attracted foreigners mostly  Nigerian girls.

Recently, Social Welfare and Community Development (SW&CD), expressed worry about the increasing rate of child prostitution in some coastal areas of the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis, particularly, European Town.

It said,  some persons notably adults were exploiting children, even at age  16,  to engage in sex work.

“No person can exploit the labour of children but this is ongoing in the Sekondi- Takoradi Metropolis,  in European Town and Amanful. It’s not a  joke. It’s against the law,” the Metropolitan Director of SW&CD, Ms Constance Baiden, revealed at  a  community campaign targeting the youth.

She reported that elderly men  in these communities  were those patronising the  child prostitution, saying that “after school,  these child prostitutes sleep with the men to get some income.”

Ms Baiden again reported that, girls under 16 were staying alone in makeshift(ghettoes) rooms dotted along the rail lines at  European Town  and collected GH¢20 for sleeping with men,  and  “nobody is  asking questions.”

“Some of the men have no conscience and no morals, indeed, child prostitution and teenage pregnancy are worrying . We need to reduce the trend in the metropolis,” she said.

The Assembly member of Airport  Ridge and Chairman of Social Services Sub-Committee of STMA,   Mr. Michael Deku, also expressed concern about some married men who targeted the young girls to satisfy their sexual needs.

He blamed the  European Town situation on some key people in the communities.

Also, Assembly member of European Town, Mr. Samuel Kojo Mensah,  complained about the springing  up of ghettoes along the rail line, fuelling prostitution (trade) in the Twin City (Sekondi -Takoradi).

Last Sunday afternoon domestic fire gutted scores of makeshift structures (ghettoes) dotted along the rail lines closed to the train station at European Town, Sekondi.

About 64 structures, mostly drinking bars, and makeshift rooms, were burnt, fas reported by the Ghana National Fire Service.

A 65-year-old woman collapsed in the process.

Six gas cylinders exploded during the fire while another  65   were retrieved to safety, to prevent further explosions.

STMA  explained that the action follows the eviction notice served on owners of affected structures in 2021 and the  subsequent stakeholder meeting held on Monday,  October 24, 2022, at the Sekondi Youth  Centre.

At the said meeting, the release added,  that, all the squatters were given two weeks ultimatum, ending Sunday, November  7, 2022, to remove their structures.

“The Assembly,  therefore,   reminded and urged all affected persons to comply with the directive before expiration of the ultimatum. The exercise will be carried out on the said date without any further notice whatsoever,” it stressed.

Various personal belongings were also burnt, Regional Fire  Public Relations Officer, Divisional  Officer II,  Emmanuel Bonney said.

From Clement Adzei Boye, Sekondi