TAKORADI TRADERS RETURN TO THE STREETS (PAGE 29)

Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Takoradi

Traders who were asked to leave the shoulders of the roads in the vicinity of the Takoradi Central Market for the Apremdo market have returned, resulting in congestion and obstruction of free flow of traffic around the market.
The move by the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly was to decongest the central business district but the return of the traders, who did not find the market at Apremdo attractive, is undermining the efforts of the assembly.
Those who have agreed to do business at the Apremdo market have to battle with thieves because they neither have storage facilities nor security to protect their properties.
The sheds at the market are also in a bad shape and some of the market women have to use their own money to repair the roof while they claim they continue to pay their daily tolls to the Assembly.
The Public Affairs Manager of the Metropolitan Assembly, Mr John Laste, said the traders at the market had not been neglected except that the development of the Apremdo Market had been factored into that of the Central market at Takoradi.
“The Golden Jubilee Market project is going to cover Takoradi Central Market and the activities of the traders at Takoradi cannot be put on hold. We at the assembly have to find a way to ensure that they are still in business,” he said.
“Therefore, we have identified Apremdo Market as one of the strategic places to relocate the traders, so the contractor will first have to rehabilitate the market at Apremdo to contain the flow from Takoradi Central Market to pave the way for commencement of work on the new market in Takoradi.
He said there were serious meetings going on, and that the consultant had done the first presentation and the local investors were ready with the funds to support the project.
He said it was a fact that the traders at the Apremdo market were trading under very bad conditions, “but I can assure you we have to ensure that the rehabilitation works are done at once but not what will make life comfortable for the traders just in the interim.”
Mr Laste said the Sekondi market would also benefit form the works.