* BULLETIN : 6

REPORT OF THE FEDERATION PROCESS IN GHANA

Ghana Homeless People’s Federation & People’s Dialogue on Human Settlements

By: Braimah R. Farouk (PD GHANA)

Like many countries in Africa, Ghana is rapidly urbanising but government and local authorities have inadequate strategies to deal with, or effectively manage, the change process. In Accra and other towns and cities, competition for land, limited financial and technical capacity amongst local/national authorities and non-involvement of those living in informal settlements in settlement planning, management and development have combined to exacerbate housing and infrastructure problems in poor communities. Poor families living in urban areas find it extremely difficult to access land, tenure security, adequate housing, basic infrastructure (safe water, sanitation, drainage, electricity, access roads) and affordable credit with which to invest in improving their own living conditions.

Particularly since most development initiatives in the country are rurally focused. There is a clear need to support mechanisms that enable poor communities in Ghana’s towns and cities to plan, implement and manage their own settlement solutions.

The Ghana Homeless People’s Federation (the Federation) is a network of community –based housing and savings schemes in urban and peri-urban settlements from across the country. The majority of the families live in squatter settlements, backyard wooden structures and tenants in compound houses in low income communities. At present, there are 55 savings and housing schemes with a total membership of close to 5000 and total savings of about fifty million cedis (¢50,000,000). The families save daily for land, infrastructure, housing, crisis loan and income generation activities.

People’s Dialogue on Human Settlements (PD) is a non governmental organization that works in partnership with the Federation to find permanent solutions to urban poverty in Ghana through the improvement of human settlements and shelter conditions. PD’s assistance to poor communities includes, among other things, technical, facilitation and harnessing external resources to augment the resources mobilized by poor communities. PD also focuses on the capacity building of Federation communities so that they are better placed to deal with their challenges. PD seeks to contribute towards the attainment of adequate shelter for all with secure tenure and access to essential services in every community in Ghana. PD is affiliated to Slum/Shack Dwellers International (SDI).

PD seeks to work in slums, informal settlements and low-income communities throughout Ghana. Since its establishment in the past eight months, PD has been working in slums and informal settlements in Accra, Tema, Kumasi, and Afram plains.

Mission

• Improvement of human settlements and shelter conditions of the poor in urban areas.
• Enhancement of socio-economic condition of the poor in urban areas

Goals

• Improvement in the quality of life of the urban poor and marginalized people
• Secured shelter of the urban poor and marginalized people.
• To explore partnership between poor communities and cities.

PD AND THE FEDERATION PROCESS (Alliance)

For purposes of both effectiveness and relevance the SDI Model will be employed by the alliance. It will involve a set of strategies and activities such as: -

• Building and organizing poor communities
• Facilitating the savings / federation process
• Strengthening the poor communities negotiation power
• Establishing and providing a support base
• Bringing together organized communities of the poor and local and/or Government authorities into dialogue

The alliance of PD and the Emerging Federation has seen the development of strong peoples process in communities where the alliance operates.

Savings Groups In Accra Metropolis (AVENOR, AGBOGBLOSHIE & OLD FADAMA)

1. OLD FADAMA GROUP

Following initial exchanges with Slum Dwellers International (SDI) in 2002, savings groups have now begun to develop in Old Fadama. The savings groups started in November 2003.

Old Fadama is the largest informal settlement in Accra and perhaps the whole of Ghana. The settlement Old Fadama is home to about 30,000 residents living in one of the most precarious conditions in Ghana. The residents are under the theat of forced evictions without alternate accommodation. The Government of Ghana is executing a project in the area called-Korle Lagoon Ecological Restoration Project (|KLERP) The KLERP has necessitated the removal of the residents from the area. The KLERP is very important for two reasons- Control and flow of storm water in the whole of Accra and Improving the Drainage system in Accra. Although the KLERP is considered important what is lacking is adequate provision for a well –integrated or community managed relocation or upgrading strategy. These considerations need to be explored. These strategies can indeed be found through a partnership between – SDI , PD Ghana, AMA, Residents and Government of Ghana.

There are about twenty (20) savings groups in old Fadama, with total membership of close to 3000. Total savings is about twenty six million cedis (US 3,000 Dollars).

Peoples Dialogue and the emerging Federation leaders have started exploring the possibilities of opening discussions and negotiations with the Ashiedu Keteke sub metro District of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly.

The emerging Federation leaders are clear on their minds that they need to cooperate with the AMA and Government. The first step for all stakeholders- Residents, AMA, Government, is to begin talking towards a negotiated solution. The residents through the Federation activities have developed the necessary skills and mindset to dialogue and negotiate with the AMA and Government.

SDI, People’s Dialogue and the Residents are committed to supporting the City and Government around relocation, resettlement, in-situ upgrading, voluntary movement and other alternatives to evictions.

All the Stakeholders agree that there is woefully inadequate, inaccurate and scanty information on and about the old Fadama area and residents. There is also suspicion of those living in old Fadama - hence the need to generate a reliable and accurate information on the area that can be trusted by both residents and the City Authorities.

ENUMERATION.

There is the urgent need for an enumeration exercise in old Fadama. SDI , People’s Dialogue and the Residents are willing and ready for the enumeration. Given the importance of the KLERP and the urgency, it is strongly suggested that the Accra Metropolitan Assembly must be involved in the process right from the start-through to the end- planning, structuring the questionnaires, and compilation of Data.

AGBOGBLOSHIE

Like most old settlements of Accra, Agbogbloshie is a formal settlement but has degenerated into a slum. One of the largest foodstuff markets in Accra is located in the area. Narrow and twisted roads, poor sanitation, wooden structures, and lack of environmental and health requirements characterize the area. The Agbogbloshie savings group was formed in April 2004 and has about150 members with total Savings of about nini million cedis (US 1000 Dollars) who are saving to address the problems identified above.

At the edge of Agbogbloshie resides the Railway Slum Dwellers. They are also saving to find solution to their insecure tenency and the looming Forced Evictions.

AVENOR

Another formal settlement that has degenerated into a slum. Poor sanitation, insufficient basic facilities and flooding are the major challenges. The Avenor savings group was started in April 2004. It has total membership of about 210 people and total Savings of about ten million cedis (US 1,100 dollars). The greatest challenge facing the community is the flooding which has become an annual problem. There is a major Drainage work in the area and it is hoped that upon completion the flooding will be minimized.