Graphic: Trader refuse to quit Makola No.2 Market

The story reads that Some 800 foodstuff traders occupying three sheds at the burnt Makola Number 2 Market in Accra have refused to quit their stalls to pave way for the completion of works to turn the market into a shopping mall. The traders, who are part of the over 3,000 affected by the fire whuct gutted the market in 1993, have refused persistent requests from the Makola Market Company to join other traders and move to the new Makola Number two Market at Agbobloshie, also in Accra built purposely for traders in foodtsufss and other perishables. The action by the traders has stalled futher works ont he 20 mbillion cedis shopping mall project which was expected to open for full business by the middle of this month. Some of the traders claimed that they were promised resettlement in the same market after its recontruction and therefore considered their re-location as an attempt to dispossess them of their stalls, a claim which has since been denied by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly which holds 25 per cent shares in the project. Social Secvurity and National Insurance Truts, financier of the project holds the remianing 75 per cent.