Government has offered an amount of GH¢500,000 to onion sellers at the Agbogbloshie market to facilitate their relocation to Adjen Kotoku.
The money is expected to cover transportation cost of the traders and their ware as the July 1 deadline for dismantling of the Agbogbloshie market approaches.
Greater Accra Regional Minister, Mr. Henry Quartey disclosed this on Monday 28th June 2021 at a stakeholders durbar in Adjen Kotoku to officially inaugurate the market and usher in the onion sellers.
He indicated that the Onion Sellers Association will receive GH¢300,000.00 as the main group, cattle rearers will receive GH¢100,000 while scrap dealers will receive GH¢50,000.00 while another group also take GH¢50,000.00
A committee, he said has been constituted to ensure equitable distribution of the money in collaboration with the Office of the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu.
The Committee, he indicated, is made of MPs for Binduri and Garu, Mr. Hon. Abdulai Abanga and Mr Albert Alalzuuga Akuka and Ablekuma Central MCE and the Greater Regional Coordinating Council.
He reiterated that come July 1, the authorities and the police will move into the Agbogbloshie market as promised and will dismantle every structure that is left standing on the site.
He also issued an ultimatum that from Monday evening no onion truck will be allowed into the central business district to offload wares.
Mr. Quartey, however, assured the onion sellers that the relocation is not to disgrace or discount their activities in the national economy and that of the region.
The Regional Coordination Council, he said, will therefore do everything from the onset of the relocation till the next six months to ensure the new environment is rendered conducive for trading.
He said, “We will go ahead to provide some facilities and social amenities so that you are able to conduct business here in harmony.”
“Government is looking at re-asphalting the road network in the community, the area of the school will be fenced and quite a number of things will be done here including the establishment of financial institutions, so I know the market here will grow.”
The Chiefs of Adjen Kotoku were unanimous in their calls to the visitors to respect the local authorities when they settle and to ensure the peace they come to meet continues.
They appealed to traders and their leadership to ensure disputes that may arise among members are settled amicably.
They indicated that while the Chiefs of Adjen Kotoku are available there are also Zongo chiefs who can step in and address any misunderstanding in view of the fact that majority of the onion sellers are Muslims.
The Amoaman Mantse, Nii Okromansah, particularly made a passionate appeal to the Regional Minister to increase the number of social amenities like hospitals.
According to him, the arrival of the traders will definitely increase the population of Kotoku and invariably put massive pressure on the few existing facilities hence the need to provide more to be able to absorb the impending numbers.
National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharubu, cautioned the new settlers to adopt the community and make it their homes and ensure they live and coexist peacefully with the indigenes.
He said, “Ghana has been blessed with peace where we see communities made up of people from different backgrounds living peacefully. This is a huge blessing because in some places, even in neighbouring countries, such cordial co-existence is rare.”
He urged the onion sellers to make the best out of the situation they find themselves in because though they may not like it, Allah knows best and surely something better will come out of their relocation.
Source: MyPublisher24.com