Traders Take Over Streets And Pavements

Traders who were ejected from the railway station in Accra last week Monday, have taken over the streets and pavements of the central business city of Accra with their wares.

Their presence there is compounding the already chaotic traffic situation in the centre of Accra. Both motorists and pedestrians have to struggle through to their destinations.

These traders engage in the sale of all kinds of goods from second hand clothes to household appliances and kitchenware.

The authorities of the Ghana Railway Company (GRC) ejected over 10,000 traders from the station, who were encroaching on the land and impeding the smooth running of trains. Their activities paved way for pickpockets and caused discomfort to passengers and a nuisance to staff of the station. Last year, many casualties were recorded involving traders and trains.

The railway authorities said, "it is illegal to trade or loiter around railway lines" and carried out an exercise to rid the station of these encroachers by closing all the entry points to the Accra Railway Station.

When ADM visited the railway station yesterday, the place was quiet. No trading was going on; not even hawkers were seen.

Construction was also underway to rebuild a wall that was pulled down by protesting traders. The wall is to stop traders at the adjacent Kantamanto Market from trespassing. Holes that had been created by traders for putting up structures were being filled up.

At the offices of GRC, the officials were happy at having achieved their objective of ejecting the "troublesome" traders at last. A top official told ADM that, when officials of the newly created Ministry of Ports, Harbours and Railways, led by the sector minister, Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, visited the station recently, they did not like the way the place was being used by traders.

He said the authorities of GRC were encouraged by the words of the minister and his entourage to eject the traders.

He said, GRC was told that the revamping of the station is donor-driven and that donors would not be encouraged to undertake the project if they saw the "bad" situation at the station.

He said a clean up exercise was carried out last Saturday to clear the filth left behind by the traders. "This has paved way for the authorities to carry on with major renovation and other activities at the station." These include the repair of both departure and arrival lines to enable the full use of them.

He said the rail tracks would be extended to Kumasi, Takoradi, Tema and other places very soon.

He said the station has only three trains and currently only one is operating due to poor tracks and other hindrances. However patronage is very high, he said.

He added that when more tracks are constructed and extended, it would help farmers to bring their food from the hinterland at a cheaper cost. GRC assured the public that they would not allow or tolerate squatters in any part of the station.

In a related development, nine traders who were involved in the demonstration by the traders against the ejection last week, have been remanded in custody at the Railway Police Station and are to re-appear before court today.

The Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) at the Station, Mr. Abigchad Boye, gave their names as, Robert Twum, George Atta Karikari, Ishmael Abdalla, Simon Badu, Atta Moses, Bismark Aboagye, Akwasi Annan, Vincent Fiawoyife and Akwasi Isaac. He said they have been charged with rioting with weapons, causing unlawful damage and failure to notify the Police on special event.

The traders have meanwhile petitioned the Ministry of Trade and Industries to give them a convenient place to trade. They are calling on the Minister to come to their aid as soon as possible.