Traders threaten to march through Accra naked

Accra, April 22, GNA - Traders operating near Novotel and Tema Lorry Station in Accra, on Thursday threatened to march through the principal streets of the Accra Metropolis naked.

This would be in protest of alleged resettlement at the Pedestrian Shopping Mall at Adabraka without the appropriate rehabilitation at the Mall.

"In fact where they want to resettle us is an eyesore; the mall lacked proper lay-out, is a flood prone area during the rainy season sometimes leading to loss of lives and property," Madam Victoria Mensah, Market Queen, Tema Station Traders Association, said.

She was addressing the media after placard-bearing members of the association, wearing red arm bands, had demonstrated to express their disapproval about the impending decongestion exercise in Accra.

They alleged that Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) had decided to embark on the exercise on Saturday, April 24.

The traders appealed to AMA to rehabilitate the mall, construct additional stalls before embarking on the decongestion.

The women accused the leadership of Novotel Traders Association of allegedly embezzling funds belonging to them and negotiating with some officials of AMA to ensure that the exercise was carried out.

"The leadership have not rendered account on levies collected from us. We even suggested that some of the monies collected should be used to improve facilities and make the mall more conducive to their operations but all to no avail," she said.

When GNA contacted the leadership of the association, Mr. McCarthy Aggrah, Novotel Market Coordinator, he refuted the allegations and explained that they were only collaborating with AMA to ensure their smooth resettlement at the mall.

"We only suggested that each trader should pay GH¢50 to assist with the rehabilitation and even with that they have refused to pay," he said.

Mr. Aggrah said the association had regulations guiding its activities and under no circumstance would the leadership misuse the association's funds.