Years after the demolition of Accra’s old Agbogbloshie onion market, which was part of a larger effort to transform the notorious e-waste site, challenges continue to hinder redevelopment efforts, casting doubts on the project’s success.
The old Agbogbloshie onion market, also known as the scrapyard, was once infamous for being labeled “Africa’s e-waste nightmare,” “a digital dumping ground,” and “one of the ten most polluted places in the world.”
However, in July 2021, the government initiated a decongestion exercise called “Let’s Make Accra Work,” led by former Greater Accra Regional Minister Henry Quartey, which saw the demolition of structures on the land.
As a result, traders were relocated to Adjen Kotoku and Dominase. However, three years later, challenges persist, with traders maintaining that they were not adequately informed about the demolition exercise and remain the most affected victims.
Despite efforts to relocate and purchase land at Teacher Mante in the Eastern Region, many scrap dealers have returned to the vicinity of the demolished site, resuming their trade.
A visit to the site by Channel One News revealed the severe impact on the Old Fadama Clinic, the only building on the site.
The clinic’s dilapidated state and lack of patients suggest its near-abandoned status. Additionally, Nana Yaw Sackey, a mason contracted to assist in constructing a fence wall, expressed grievances over non-payment despite completing the work.
The 80-acre reclaimed land is deteriorating, reverting to its previous state, hosting open defecation and unauthorized dumping. This contrasts with the ambitious goals of the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council (GARCC) when it relocated traders in 2021. Although part of the reclaimed land was designated for a modern health facility as part of the government’s Agenda 111 initiative, progress appears to have been slow, with the project commencing only recently, years after the land was reclaimed.
Accoridng to Citinewsroom, efforts to reach the Ablekuma Central Municipal Assembly for comment were unsuccessful, leaving the redevelopment project’s future uncertain.