Minister issue ultimatum to Railway squatters

Kwesi Osei-Adjei, outgoing Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, on Wednesday gave a two-week ultimatum to traders still keeping their wares in the Accra yard of the Railway Corporation to clear them.

The ultimatum, which ends on Wednesday 30 April 2003 was issued after a meeting with representatives of the traders, the Ghana Railway Corporation and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA).

It was agreed all the parties that traders be allowed till after the Easter vacation to clear their goods. Osei-Adjei said the whole exercise would be conducted under the strict supervision of the Police to ensure law and order and also secure the property of the traders.

He stated that there was no way the AMA could relocate the huge number of squatters, adding that the only solution to the problem would be for the traders to apply to the AMA to be fixed into the suburbia markets in the city.

He said though the AMA might not be able to absorb all the traders into the Osu, Salaga, Dansoman and Nungua markets, at least the exercise would provide an interim solution to the problem, while plans on a long-term solution was sought.

Osei-Adjei said the current lawless situation and indiscipline in the society could no longer be tolerated, adding that the city had a definite design that should not be changed under the circumstance.

He, however, told the traders that he would personally demand a vivid account and payment for goods and property destroyed, from the Railway authorities, "since they gave me their word to protect those properties till the issue is resolved".

Kofi Danquah Osei, a representative of the Town and Country Planning, said the AMA was willing to do all it could to relocate the traders into established markets in the various suburbs.

He said the AMA had plans underway to create a bulk breaking market, to be situated at Amasaman, where goods could be purchased in bulk, without having to travel to the Makola market.

"This project would be completed hopefully by the end of next year", he said. Osei urged the traders to meet with the AMA to discuss their relocation into the suburbia markets, since that would be the only interim solution to the current situation.

Charles Adu-Boahen, Secretary, Unity Traders Association, reiterated an earlier appeal to the AMA and the Ministry of Trade, to allow the traders to resettle in the interim at the onion market at Agbobloshie.

He said the markets were already full and their presence in those places could create congestion and problems for residents but told the Minister that the traders would abide by the ultimatum.