‘Making Accra work again collective responsibility’ — Regional Minister

“I CAN only succeed in making Accra work again if we support and make the campaign a collective responsibility,” the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Mr Henry Quartey, has said.

“As the representative and servant of the President, I must work to ensure that things are done right. Those squatting and erecting unauthorised structures have been engaged many times and notices served them. The train has taken off and it will not stop now,” he added.

The minister, who was speaking during a visit to the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL), one of the companies along the Obetsebi-Lamptey-Farisco Road where the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) carried out a decongestion and clean-up exercise last Tuesday, said Accra was losing its reputation as a tourist destination due to congestion and filth.

Among companies along that stretch of road are Accra Brewery, Japan Motors, Rana Motors, Pepsi, Letap, among other business establishments.

Mr Quartey held discussions with the acting Managing Director of the GCGL, Mr Franklin Sowa; the Editor of the Daily Graphic, the flagship brand of the GCGL, Mr Kobby Asmah, and a Deputy News Editor of the Daily Graphic, Mr Kwame Asare Boadu.

In the minister’s entourage were the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Director, Ms Felicia Dapaah, and the Regional Economic Planning Officer, Ms Jemima Lomotey.

The minister later visited the Daily Graphic Newsroom to interact with staff and also share his views on the exercise.

He commended the Editor and his team of journalists for always producing quality and balanced news to support the accelerated development of the country.

Situation

He said apart from making the national capital unattractive, the situation also posed a threat to security and said the decongestion exercise was part of efforts to ensure that Accra regained its lost glory.

According to him, the ongoing exercise was not aimed at victimising anybody or making life difficult for the people.

“I am undaunted by complaints because the right thing ought to be done to make the city work again,” he stated.

When asked about the chances of success, where others had failed, Mr Quartey said the success of the exercise depended on all.

He, therefore, urged the GCGL to contribute towards the exercise by using its media to educate and sensitise the people to the need to make Accra work again.

He said after the exercise, all companies along the road would be responsible for the cleanliness of their respective facilities and surrounding areas, adding that failure to do so would attract a fine.

The minister also said in line with the campaign, onion sellers at Agbogbloshie would in the long run be relocated to Adjen Kotoku, where a large tract of land had been acquired for that purpose.

He added that wood traders at Kokompe would also be relocated, saying: “They have not moved there since land was acquired for them there 20 years ago. For the short to medium term, we are decongesting the flanks of the area they occupy now.”

According to Mr Quartey, spare parts dealers at Abossey Okai had bought into the RCC agenda and were currently collaborating with the council to decongest some streets in the area.

E-waste dumping site

Mr Quartey said Ghana had earned the unenviable tag as the largest E-waste dumping site in the world.

"A simple search on Google reveals that Ghana has the largest E-waste dump site in the world — at Agbogbloshie in Accra. In terms of countries with the most slums and filth, Ghana ranks 10th,” he said.