Minister bemoans congestion in the city

Accra Dec. 21, GNA - Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Minister of Tourism and Modernization of the Capital City, on Wednesday expressed an urgent need to halt the uncontrolled placing of kiosks and tables along the major routes in Accra.

"Hordes of hawkers and street vendors have invaded every street and open spaces within the Metropolis. There are illegal and unauthorized taxi stations, makeshift lorry parks, auto-repair shops, block making ventures, which have sprung up and loitered all over the Metropolis," Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, lamented.

The Minister expressed the concern at a public forum held at Osu, to solicit public view about a proposal by Scancom Ghana Limited, operators of Areeba to redevelop the Cantonments road.

" The Capital City is expected to be economically transformed so that it will propel the ultimate transformation of Ghana into a middle income economy," The Minister said.

Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey noted that law and order had broken down in Accra creating a chaotic, disorganized and unsightly metropolitan conditions.

"Open drains are choked with garbage and slum development is on the increase," he said.

This he said defeated the Modernization concept, which was primarily to regenerate it to meet international levels. Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey was, however, hopeful that Ghanaians have the intellectual capacity to tackle the problem.

Mr Thomas Fokuo Agyapong, a Director at the Ministry, said regenerating the Capital City could boost economic activities, as it would ensure organized, economic, social and entertaining environment for the residents The project, which would focus on the Danquah Circle - Labone road and Cantonments road popularly referred to as the Oxford Street would provide large parking spaces for vehicles while creating spaces for pedestrians.

There would be sheds for shelter and spaces would be created for entertainment.

Mr Agyapong said the project also sought to develop and generate local employment thus improving the micro economy while it served as a tourist attraction.

The people most of whom lauded the project also called for more of such meetings to enable them to make inputs. 21 Dec. 05