Government’s handling of Kantamanto issue is ugly – Kwesi Pratt

Kwesi Pratt Jnr, has lashed out at what he describes as confused communications, coming from different sectors of government about the reconstruction plans for the Kantamanto market which was gutted by fire few weeks ago.

On Tuesday May 14, the Minister of Transport, Dzifa Ativor disclosed that, as part of measures to revamp the railway sector, the government has decided to develop the fire-ravaged Katamanto market into a modern rail station.

According to the minister, the government has taken advantage of the unfortunate spectacle that rocked the market to give the railway industry a major facelift to give meaning to government’s intended plans to revamp the railway sub-sector.

Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Railway Authority, Saddiq Alidu, corroborated the sentiments of the minister.

A few days after the inferno, Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) boss, Alfred Okoe Vandapuije stated on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show there will be a “complete reconstruction of the market” before traders are resettled.

Gbese Mantse, Nii Ayi Bonte II, have also recently come forward to lay claim to the Kantamanto land.

Speaking on Kokrokoo on Peace FM Friday, the Insight editor said these communications about plans, counter-plans and ownership claims coming from institutions complementing government, were rather very ugly.

In his view, the space is big enough to be used for both a modern rail terminal and a market at the same time.

He did not understand the confused statements coming from government.

He recalled that, after the fire, officials of the Ministry of the Roads and Transport and the AMA visited affected traders as envoys from government, hence wondered why both institutions are now coming up with contradictory plans.

“Is there no coordination in the centre of government?” he demanded.

He wondered whether the Accra Mayor, Alfred Vandapuije consulted the Minister of Roads and Transport before making his pronouncements about plans for the market.

He said he was certain the minister had also not consulted the relevant agencies before making the pronouncements about plans for Kantamanto.

Kwesi Pratt believes the confusion will most likely frustrate the traders whose properties and livelihoods were destroyed in the fire.

Mr Pratt said, although the ongoing confusion is likely to fuel suspicion that the Sunday May 5 dawn fire that razed down the whole of the Kantamanto market could be arson, he still thinks it was an unfortunate accident.