Traders invade Koforidua main street

Koforidua, Oct. 11, GNA - Traders have poured onto the Adweso-Asokore road including the pedestrian lane and have turned the two-lane road into a single lane.

This is causing traffic jam in the area, compelling pedestrians and cars to struggle for a walking or driving space. When the Ghana News Agency asked the traders why they had decided to sell on the road and they said they had been there for a long time and that they did not realize they were on the street.

One of them said 93oh, but we are not on the street, we are only outside the market and moreover this is where we have been selling for a long time. People come here to buy and when we leave we cannot get money as we have been getting."

The sellers said they had been paying their daily levies to the assembly taskforce and did not believe they were breaking any law. Others said they had not been given a place and that they would willingly agree to relocate if authorities provide them a place. Asked why they are rather not selling in the market, they replied that the sheds in the market were all occupied and that they had no place to sell

When contacted the Municipal Chief Executive of New Juaben, Mr Alexander Asamoah, said the situation would be a thing of the past soon.

"Somebody somewhere is not doing his work properly and we will ensure that the person does it," he said. "If he is not ready, we will let him stay aside for someone else to do it. Nobody should work for another person to go and collect money at the end of the month for doing nothing." Mr. Asamoah said he had personally approached the sellers and warned them but 93what they said was that 93where will we go if you sack us?'" He said force might be used to bring sanity to the municipality.