Accra to be modernised

Accra, July 17, GNA - As parts of efforts to modernise Accra, the Capital city, an enclave comprising Obetsebi-Lamptey Circle, Danquah Circle and the La Polyclinic Junction is to be developed.

Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Minister of Tourism and Modernisation of the Capital City, who announced this at a press conference on Thursday, explained that after the development of the enclave, similar enclaves would be selected within the City to be developed until the whole city was fully beautified.

Giving outlines for the modernisation programme, Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey said the government decided to embark on the programme to make Accra a 21st century city comparable to other capital cities in the world to be able to contribute substantially to the economy of Ghana through trade and tourism and make it a more attractive site for investment.

Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey said the choice of approach was made out of three possibilities of moving the capital city to a new site, which was very expensive; maintaining the current city based on history and carving an enclave out of the sprawling city of Accra.

He said the selection of enclave approach would have to find answers to challenges posed by population pressure and commercial and traffic congestion but added these would be addressed through the relocation of markets to new emerging sites; building of transport terminals in communities and the provision of social amenities like toilet facilities at areas closer to the people.

He said for instance, owners of filling stations were to provide toilet facility at their stations for their clients.

The Minister said though the task of developing the city was enormous, the implementing Team would collaborate with sister Ministries, Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council, Accra Metropolitan Assembly and other governmental agencies to make the project a reality.

He said the Team would also enforce the existing byelaws on road traffic regulations; enhance revenue collection and improve on sanitation to reduce malaria.

Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey announced that a new law was being worked on to ban the importation of plastic bags and to place a fine of 10 cedis on every plastic bag manufactured in the country for the proceeds to be used to collect plastic waste that had engulfed the country.