AMA embarks on market projects to relocate hawkers

Accra, July 7, GNA - The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) would soon begin a 9.9 billion cedis market projects at the Odowna and Agbogbloshie areas to relocate the street hawkers, who were affected in the recent decongestion exercise in Accra.

The Ministry of Finance has already released 2.9 billion cedis to the AMA as mobilisation fund to start with, Mr Abraham Dwuma Odoom, Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, said at a press conference in Accra on Thursday.

He said the action confirmed the Government's policy to give the decongestion exercise a human face by giving the traders an alternative place to sell their wares.

He asked the AMA to expedite action but ensure that everything was done in accordance with the Procurement Law.

Nii Stanley Adjiri Blankson, Metropolitan Chief Executive, said the project would provide 3,600 stalls, pipe-borne water, two toilets and a warehouse to be managed by AMA staff.

He said the area would be tarred, fenced from the Ghana Commercial Bank to the river side, two fixed roads leading to the market area with knowledge and understanding that vehicles would use the back entrance. The corner around the Orion Cinema would be fenced in order to keep the city clean.

Nii Adjiiri Blankson said when the project was completed it would then be an offence for anybody to sell on the streets, saying those who would not get stalls could sell within the perimeter of the market.

Nii Adjiri Blankson announced that the AMA was also going to put up a 24 billion cedis modern market at the Salaga market at James Town in Accra to conform to the impending modernization of the capital city. He said the Ministry of Finance had released a seed capital of two billion cedis.

He said the project, which would be completed within 18 months, was expected to have a lifespan of 50 years. " We will do selective tendering and will have a consortium of contractors."

He said AMA would allocate stalls to those who were moved out of the old Salaga market for free but outsiders, who would want to occupy stalls, would be required to pay a fee for the facility.