Nitiwul Accuses Accra Metropolitan Assembly of targeting Konkomba traders over 24-hour market plan
Bimbilla Member of Parliament Dominic Nitiwul has accused the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) of targeting Konkomba traders in its plans to establish a 24-hour market in the capital.
Mr. Nitiwul claims several shops and areas occupied by Konkomba traders have been marked for demolition, while other sections of the area have allegedly been left untouched.
He questioned why the portion occupied by the traders had been specifically selected for the project, arguing that the area earmarked for demolition was far larger than what would be required to establish a 24-hour market.
According to the Bimbilla MP, the affected traders had done nothing to warrant what he described as targeted action against them. He has therefore appealed to President John Dramani Mahama to intervene and direct the Accra Mayor to reconsider the planned demolition.
“Mr. President, stop your Mayor. Let him stop targeting them. If you cannot help develop the market for them to sell their yarns, stop. Another President will come and do it. They are not moving,” he said.
Mr. Nitiwul stressed that his objection was not to the government’s 24-hour market initiative, but rather to what he described as the attempt to use the project to displace traders operating the yarn market.
“Nobody is saying that we don’t want a 24-hour market. No, far from that. But the market where they sell purely yarn is totally different from the activities of the 24-hour market. They are two different markets,” he stated.
He also urged traders who had been reluctant to bring their goods to the market because of the demolition concerns to continue bringing their wares.
Mr. Nitiwul warned that proceeding with the demolition could have political consequences for the government and called for dialogue with the affected traders to address their concerns.
Source: Northwebonline.com
