Accra, July 16, GNA – The Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly (KoKMA) Friday decongested the Ministries and Osu enclave as part of the “Let’s make Accra work” campaign, initiated by the Greater Accra Regional Minister.
The exercise, which would be in phases, is to beautify the city, specifically the Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly.
Nii Adjei Tawiah, the Korle Klottey Municipal Chief Executive, said the exercise, spearheaded by the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council, had gone on for two months and the Assembly had begun its first phase.
He said the Assembly took steps to inform traders within the Municipality to remove all unauthorised structures from the pavements and reservations, before July 16.
“People have placed all sorts of structures anywhere they like in the city, and so we gave them notices and came back to engage most of them. Even yesterday at about 0700 hours we were around Railway Electoral Area reminding them about the intended exercise, and so they know, but have paid deaf ears,” he said.
Nii Tawiah said they begun with the Ministries area because when visitors came to transact business, that was their first point of call and it was not very nice to have some of those structures around.
“We want them to send good messages about Ghana,” he said.
Nii Tawiah said that was one of their mandates as city authorities to ensure that pedestrian walk ways were not blocked and water ways were left clear.
“If we do not put in a little more action, the objective of this campaign will not be achieved,” he said.
On the issue of sustainability, the MCE said Ghanaians seemed to have been awaken to that fact that a clean environment was healthy and had bought into the campaign.
He said all the assemblies within the Region had taken it up and so it would be difficult for the squatters to go back.
“Most of them do not have permission to be where they are and we may not be able to afford to resettle everybody, but in some cases where there are spaces, we have engaged for places for them to go and sell,” he said.
Mr James Cobbina, one of the affected traders at Osu, said they were only given two weeks to vacate the area, which was not enough.
“Since the notices was served to us, I have not been able to work because I have been looking for a place to relocate, and I am yet to get one, that is why I have not moved.”
He said he had done business at the place for the past eight years and on daily basis he paid tolls to the Assembly and also paid some monies yearly.
“I do metal works and sell spare parts as well, I have invested so much in this business, but just in a day all my efforts have gone down the drain, they should have given us more time to vacate the place.”
GNA