Govt votes GH¢500,000 for relocation of traders to Adjen Kotoku

The Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) has made available GH¢500,000 for the relocation of traders who engage in bulk breaking activities from Agbogbloshie to Adjen Kotoku in the Ga West municipality.

The money — to be used for the carting of wares to the new site — will be distributed to the onion sellers (GH¢300,000), cattle rearers (GH¢100,000), truck pushers (GH¢50,000) and scrap dealers (GH¢50,000) for further distribution to their individual members trading in the area.

The RCC has, consequently, set up a committee, comprising the Members of Parliament (MPs) for Ablekuma Central, Binduri and Garu-Tempane and representatives from the RCC and the Office of the Chief Imam to ensure fair distribution of the money.

The Regional Minister, Mr. Henry Quartey, made this known during a stakeholder engagement involving the leadership of the bulk breaking traders, the Ga Traditional Council and the RCC.

The meeting was also attended by the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharabutu, high-ranking members of the Ghana Police Service and the chief executives of the Ga West and the Ablekuma Central municipal assemblies.

Agitation

Prior to the meeting, the onion traders had rejected the new facility, chanting in Hausa: “bei yi”, to wit, “it is not acceptable”.

They cited concerns about the size of the market and the place not being conducive for their business as reasons for their position.

The police arrived just in time to foil any chances of the protest turning violent.

Mr. Quartey, however, insisted that the RCC would not change its position on the July 1 deadline for the evacuation of the traders from the Agbogbloshie Market.

He assured the traders that “we will do everything in our power to ensure that this environment is made humane for you”.

He said plans were underway for the construction of six more sheds, a car park and a washing bay at the new site.

In addition, he said, the government was considering re-asphalting roads in the community to improve vehicular movement in the area.

Appeal

The Chief of Amoahman, a community at Adjen Kotoku, Nii Amoah Akromansah VII, expressed appreciation to the minister for the initiative, saying it would hasten the development of the area.

He appealed for more infrastructure, including a senior high school (SHS), in the community and dormitories for existing boarding schools.

“We welcome the decision by the minister to open this market. I am hopeful that the operations of the market will bring the needed development to the Adjen Kotoku community and its environs,” he added.

Background

The Regional Minister last month gave bulk breaking traders at the Agbogbloshie Market up to July 1, this year to relocate to the Adjen Kotoku Market.

Mr Quartey said the move was to ensure the success of the “Let’s Make Accra Work” initiative by the RCC.

Adjen Kotoku

The Adjen Kotoku Market is a bulk breaking market complex which was started in 2008 and completed in 2011.

It was originally built to accommodate traders in the Agbogbloshie Market to ease congestion in the area.

The project comprises a free draining platform for the loading and unloading of goods and 95 sectional storage units of approximately 30 metres square each, with secure locking facilities.

It also has an SHS, a health centre, a police station and a fire station.