The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of the Ga West Municipal Assembly, Mr Clement Wilkinson says the GH₡300,000 given to the onion sellers as transportation to move from Agbogbloshie to Adjen Kotoku was one of the numerous demands they made before moving.
According to him, the onion sellers initially refused to relocate and started making many demands.
The Government issued a seven-week ultimatum to the onion traders to relocate from Agbogbloshie to Adjen Kotoku, where a new market, which was established over a decade had been allocated to them.
This was part of measures taken to decongest the central business district.
The decongestion exercise is also part of the Minister’s ‘Let’s make Accra ‘campaign to improve conditions in the national capital.
However, after the ultimatum given by government, the onion sellers protested against their relocation with explanation that the market allocated to them was not big enough to contain them.
They were given an amount of GHC300, 000 to transport them from Agbogbloshie to Adjen Kotoku.
Despite the compensation, some of the onion sellers had to go back to the North since they could not get space at the new market.
They pleaded with Government to extend the seven-week ultimatum to the end of the year, so that they could have ample time to look for a better place to do their business, but government did not hear their plea.
But on Thursday morning, July 1,2021, most of them went to Adjen Kotoku to offload their onions.
Speaking on Atinka TV’s morning show, Ghana Nie, with Co Host, Ama Gyenfa Ofosu Darkwa, Mr Wilkinson said, “When the Minister said he will relocate them, they said it was mere news. They said they will not leave, but when you have patience, you will be able to do anything you plan to do.”
He added that,” We met the leadership of the onion sellers for more than 20 times, they made a lot of demands and we accepted them. He gave them money for transportation and people do not understand, but we do.”
Ghana| Atinkaonline.com| Porcia Oforiwaa Ofori
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