SOLDIER BAR PARTIALLY DESTROYED

UNCLAS ACCRA 000693 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KTIP PHUM XA XY GH SUBJECT: SOLDIER BAR PARTIALLY DESTROYED ¶1. (U) Part of Soldier Bar, a brothel in Accra known to have employed child prostitutes was demolished by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) on July 1. The brothel was made famous over a year ago following an undercover report by an investigative journalist who shot secret video footage of girls as young as 14 engaging in sex for pay. ¶2. (U) In May 2009, the Chief Executive of Accra (also called the Mayor) pledged to wage "a relentless war" on illegally sited structures and to improve nighttime security in the city as part of an overall economic and social development in the capital. The demolition of the brothel, which began shortly before midnight, included small shops and kiosks selling food and drink that surrounded the brothel. ¶3. (U) The owners of the brothel partially demolished the structures used for their operations in spring 2008, in order to avoid complete demolition by the authorities, but it was again fully operational by June of last year. In its latest move, the AMA destroyed only part of the brothel and gave the owners 3 days to clear out their belongings before the entire structure is demolished. The ultimatum expired July 4, but so far, the AMA has taken no further action against Soldier Bar. TEITELBAUM