Traders at Kantamanto in Accra have clashed with police and officials of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) Tuesday over plans to destroy the popular market place.
The AMA has given the traders one-week ultimatum to vacate their stalls.
However, the traders say a demolition of their stalls and sheds would deprive them of their sources of income and livelihood.
Joy News sources say city authorities have sold a large part of the market to private developers.
AMA officials will not confirm if claims that the market space has been sold to private developers, but only said they are just carrying out a court order.
Traders at the bustling market say although it will not be fair to evict them, the one week ultimatum is rather short.
“Where do I have to go and sell? [City officials] say we should not sell on the pavements, we should not sell by the road side and now we are in the yard. Still you say we should move out, fine, just give us somewhere to go and sell. There is no market for us,” said an agitated woman.
The congested market place is home to various traders and artisans. Items sold at market are mostly imported second hand clothes, shoes and household items – usually at very reduced prices.
However, congestion and non-availability of a proper safety measures have caused many fires at the market.
The last fire that struck at the market in 2014 wreaked havoc to goods and properties.
This will be the umpteenth time traders at the busy Accra market are being ejected in a bid to make way for development.
The AMA promised to reconstruct and transform the market into an ultra-modern complex after the fire in 2014.
At a news conference in Accra a day after the fire gutted the market, AMA promised to begin work on the project, but not much has been heard since.
The first devastating fire struck on May 5, 2013, sweeping along with it the livelihoods of more than 2,000 traders.
The traders, many of whom could not contain the shock of having to witness the burning of all their wares, wailed uncontrollably and threw themselves on the ground.
Following the incident, government, through the Micro-finance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), presented a cheque for GH¢1,465,035 to 800 of the victims to make life bearable for them and their families.
Stanbic Bank Ghana also wrote off the debt of 14 victims who had benefited from its small and medium enterprise (SME) quick loans product.
In addition, the bank issued a cheque for ¢150,000 as its corporate social responsibility to the 14 victims to restart their businesses.
Star Microinsurance Company also presented a cheque for ¢390,000 in two tranches to some of the victims, with Vanguard Assurance paying ¢45,304 as claims to 32 traders.
Source: Ghana | Myjoyonline.com
