Makola Market Demolished At Long Last

Accra, (Greater Accra) 9 Sept.,

Accra, (Greater Accra) 9 Sept., Makola Number Two market has finally been demolished to make way for the completion of the new shopping mall. No market woman was in sight today to protest the demolition as was witnessed yesterday, when the exercise started. It is believed most of them have moved to the new market at Agbogbloshie. The traders had earlier refused to move, claiming they could not afford the high cost of the facilities at the new market. According to the Makola Market Company, prices of the stores range between four million and seven million cedis, stalls, between 1.8 million cedis and 2.6 million cedis, and table tops, an average 480,000 cedis. Mr. Clement Fiti, assistant public relations officer of Accra Metropolitan Authority, told the GNA that the women are required to pay 20 per cent of the amounts and the rest spread over two years. He said when completed the mall will house a restaurant, a day care centre, a clinic and pharmacy shops, among others. The Accra Metropolitan Authority (AMA) yesterday started the demolition of the remaining sheds of the market amid confusion. The Makola Number Two area, a busy and congested place, was thrown into pandemonium when the demolition squad of the AMA started pulling down the walls of the market. The market women, who had remained adamant to the directive of the AMA to move to the Agbogbloshie market by September one, quickly started removing their things, while pouring curses and insults on the demolition squad.