NPP worried about slow pace of Cape Coast market project

The Central Regional New Patriotic Party (NPP) has expressed its unhappiness about the lackadaisical manner with which work on the Oguaa Kotokuraba Market Project was being carried out saying it was a “deceptive political gimmick” by the ruling party.

It said it was disappointed at the lack of seriousness with which the Atta Mills-led Government had addressed developmental issues in the Central Region.

These sentiments were expressed by Mr. Alfred Kojo Thompson, NPP Parliamentary candidate for Cape Coast at a press conference at the Party’s Regional Office in Cape Coast.

He said where was the sum of US$155 million which was part of the US$750 million EUROBOND that the Kufuor Government in early January 2009, bequeathed the NDC for the execution of such projects.

He said, of the amount, US$4 million was meant for the construction of the Cape Coast Kotokuraba market, another US$4 million for Mankessim market and another US$4 million for the Bawjiase Market; and was surprised that no market had sprung up in any of these areas in the Central Region.

Mr. Thompson said the Mayor of Cape Coast, Mr. Anthony Aikins, had said a loan was being contracted from the China Exim Bank for the market project but surprisingly nothing of that sort was before parliament.

Mr. Thompson said after the Mayor’s announcement, the MP for Cape Coast, Mr. Ebo Barton-Odro on Atlantic FM, a local radio station which tried to seek confirmation of the MCE’s statement, explained that issues on the loan was not yet before parliament.

He said a few weeks later, Mr. Koku Anyidoho, Director Of Communications at the Presidency in an interview on Hot FM in Accra, said the Mills Government did not promise to build a market at Cape Coast but rather to undertake renovation works.

Mr. Thompson expressed worry that such an important project had become a propaganda tool for the December polls whilst traders at the Kotokuraba market had been forced to relocate to places that were neither convenient or suitable for market activities.

He described as pathetic and inhumane the relocation of the traders in the rainy season which had caused some of them to lose their sources of livelihood.

He pledged the NPP’s commitment towards executing all its promises and called on Ghanaians to turn up in their numbers on December 7 to kick the NDC out.

Mr. Stephen Asamoah Boateng, the aspiring NPP Member of Parliament for Mfantseman West, said from all indications the NDC government does not have the welfare of Ghanaians at heart since they pocket monies meant for developmental projects.

He reiterated the call for Ghanaians to vote the NPP back into power to re-fix the economy and change their standard of living.

Mr. Aikins said the NPP had all the opportunity to build the market but failed, and that they are only in to deceive the public which will not materialize because it will be executed to the latter and the people of Cape Coast will see it for themselves.**