Revive abandoned markets as part of decongestion - MP

Accra, May 26, GNA - The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has been urged to rehabilitate and revive abandoned markets in the city to accommodate traders and hawkers selling on the street pavements. The call was made by Mr. Jonathan Nii Tackie-Komme, MP for the Odododiodioo during a working visit to inspect projects within the Ashiedu-Keteke Sub Metropolitan Area in Accra. The MP, who was accompanied by some government officials, executives of the National Democratic Congress and opinion leaders in the constituency inspected road projects including the four-lane Korle Lagoon Bridge.

He also inspected school buildings with structural defects, the Salaga Market and the second-hand cloths market at the Railway station at Kantamanto. At the Salaga Market, Mr. Tackie-Komme stressed his determination to ensure the rehabilitation and re-opening of the market to serve the people and to revive commercial activities in the community. He explained that the market, when re-opened would accommodate traders and sellers currently operating on the streets as part of efforts to de-congest the city of both human and vehicular traffic. The MP said he would liaise with the AMA, which is in-charge of markets to ensure the early execution of the project. At the Railway Station, Mr. Samuel Amoah, Chairman of the Kantamanto Traders Association, informed the MP that the Association leased the land from the Ghana Railway Corporation (GRC) in 1998. He said in late 1998, the Accra Area Manager of the GRC informed them that one Mr. Charles Obeng and the Pioneer Merchants Company had acquired a portion of the land and asked them to leave. Mr. Amoah appealed to the government through the MP to impress on GRC to rescind its decision since the Association had applied to the Corporation in 1998 for permission to build a complex, which was turned down because the land was needed for a railway expansion programme. Mr. Amoah who was flanked by Mr. Adarkwa Yiadom and Baffuor Akoto both executives of the Association and Mr. Jerry John Motty, Kantamanto NDC Chairman, said the Association had over 2,000 members who would turn to the already congested streets if they were evicted. He expressed wonder why the land should be leased to Mr. Obeng and the Pioneer Merchants since they were already on the plot and should be given preference.

Mr. Tackie-Komme asked the traders to remain calm as he consulted the authorities and the management of the GRC. He stated that, the land was acquired by the colonial government for a purpose and if the Railways Corporation did not have any use for it, it should return it to its original owners and not to lease it to private person.