AMA boss in trouble

The tug-of-war between the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and tomato traders over the control of tomato markets in Accra has come to a head, with the traders threatening to lodge a complaint against the Metropolitan Chief Executive, Dr. Alfred Nii Okoe Vanderpuije, Today has gathered.

Credible information available to Today indicates that over 278 certified members of the Greater Accra branch of the Ghana National Tomato Traders and Transporters Association (GNTTTA) have dropped hint of their intention to storm Flagstaff House on Friday, August 21, 2015 to meet President John Dramani Mahama.

The move, according to sources, will see the tomato traders brief President Dramani Mahama about the failures of the AMA to resolve the long standing dispute at the CMB and Railway Line markets.

The traders want the AMA to get rid of unregistered traders as well as enforce compliance with a time table for the supply of tomato produce to the markets.

The traders contended that the presence of non-members and middlemen was negatively affecting revenue.

According to them, since they have registered with the AMA and duly pay tax to the city authorities and government, it behooves the AMA to protect them against unfair competition.

In order to ensure sanity in the two markets, President Dramani Mahama a couple of months ago reportedly tasked Dr. Vanderpuije to meet the tomato traders to chart the way forward on how to address their grievances.

But, according to sources close to the tomato traders, during series of meetings held at the AMA head office, chaired by the Coordinating Director of the Assembly, Mr. Ayeh Dartey, the traders realised that the officials of the Assembly were not interested in solving the problems in the markets, but were only interested in how to collect market tolls from them.

Today learnt that the development has compelled the traders to request audience with the President Dramani Mahama to update him about the situation on the ground.

The traders, this reporter gathered, were also angry at the AMA and the Member of Parliament (MP) for Odododiodio, Hon. Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, over a litany of unfulfilled promises made to the traders.

“We are getting tired…anytime the AMA invites us to talk about development of the two markets in the Accra metropolis they only repeat the same promises. In fact, we are tired of these repeated promises,” the sources angrily expressed.

“…our people are suffering; our people are cursing and making negative statements against AMA and NDC. Some of them say they have regretted voting for the NDC,” the sources stressed.

Asked exactly what the traders would be telling President Dramani Mahama when they get the opportunity to meet him, the sources noted that: “The tomato traders will tell the president about the series of letters they sent to the AMA, ministries of local government and rural development and the trade ministry.”

The sources further disclosed that at the intended meeting the traders would spell out a list of unfulfilled promises by Dr. Vanderpuije-led administration.

Again, the tomato traders will be telling President Dramani Mahama how the current MP for Odiodiodio, Hon. Nii Lante Vanderpuije, and Dr. Vanderpuije ignored their pleas to assist them remove impediments to their business.

Speaking to Today some traders said the AMA in 2014 cleaned up the CMB Area to rid the trading environment of filth arising out of the unhygienic trading practices.

This, they noted, was well embraced since it would help the Assembly monitor the market and also ensure safety standards.

In view of that they stated that the AMA relocated them along the Railway Line believing that they will sustain the process of sanitising the area to help streamline the trade in line with standards and framework of the ministry of trade and industry.

However, they stated that the AMA has failed to sustain its policy direction regarding the CMB and Railway Line markets.

“It is common knowledge that all tomato wholesalers and other agro traders had been ejected from operating along the NIB Bank-Accra Breweries stretch. Unfortunately, some had returned under the watch of the AMA, and are degrading the area once again.

"...with the excuse that they are not making good sales at the new site allocated to them by the AMA behind the Accra Breweries. This fact is known to the Mayor, including the fact that the Breweries have even protested the presence of the women along the stretch,” the stated.

The Association also mentioned that the lack of coordination of the trading activities of some of the tomato traders have left majority of them in debt.

They averred that somewhere in 2006, the Crop Directorate of the AMA and the traders met the ministry of trade and industry and put in place mechanisms for improving tomato trading.

During that meeting the AMA was made the collaborating agency in achieving the goals set by ministry of trade and industry (MOTI) and ministry of food and agriculture (MOFA).

“Unfortunately, some of our colleagues, together with agents of the AMA, for personal gains, messed up the arrangement. Since then, we have been subjecting the members to series of problems which have affected their business.