Circle traders appeal for adequate compensation

The members of the Pedestrian Shopping Mall Traders Association at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle have appealed to the Minister of Roads and Highways to ensure that they are given adequate compensation before their relocation.

Mr Charles Kwarko Ampomeah, the Chairman of the Association, told the GNA that the GHC224, 679.00, which was being offered as compensation by the Department of Urban Roads to all the 315 traders was woefully inadequate and unacceptable.

The traders whose business location would be affected by the construction of the Interchange said they were not against the project, but they wanted a resettlement package that would take care of the challenges to arise and would make them continue with their businesses.

Mr. Ampomeah said in 2006, when most of them legally acquired and occupied the shopping mall, the cost of constructing a metallic container ranged between GHC1, 800.00 and GHC2, 000.00, beside the cost of the provision of electricity.

He, therefore, asked whether or not in arriving at the GHS224, 679.00, the Lands Valuation Division of the Lands Commission Secretariat, which worked out the compensation, took into account the cost of the structures, either metallic or wooden; the value of the land; the deprivation of livelihood; and the cost of repatriation.

Mr. Ampomeah said to date nobody had discussed with them where they were going to be re-located and wondered whether they would have to return to the streets or pavements to ply their trade or not.

He said they had been cooperating with the contractors and all the relevant agencies connected with the project to ensure its successful execution; but he stated that the source of their livelihood was at stake and thus called for a fair deal.