Onion sellers at Agbogbloshie say they are yet to receive their share of the GH¢500,000 relief package from the government.
The Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) has made available GH¢500,000 for the relocation of traders who engage in bulk breaking activities from Agbogbloshie to Adjen Kotoku in the Ga West municipality.
The money — to be used for the carting of wares to the new site — will be distributed to the onion sellers (GH¢300,000), cattle rearers (GH¢100,000), truck pushers (GH¢50,000) and scrap dealers (GH¢50,000) for further distribution to their individual members trading in the area.
The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Mr Henry Quartey on Monday, June 29, 2021 told the Onion sellers at a durbar prior to their relocation that although the money was ready, it would be shared to them after it is goes through due processes.
The Minister in his remarks said, “Government is making available GH¢500,000. I want to reiterate that it is for transportation to Adjen Kotoku.”
Another highlight of the event was the immediate banning of onion-laden trucks from entering the Agbogbloshie Market.
The order constitutes part of measures taken towards the relocation of onion traders to the new site at the Adjen Kotoku Market Complex located in the Ga West Municipal Assembly.
The movement forms part of the Regional Minister’s ‘Let’s Make Accra Work’ project with the aim of decongesting the central business district and improving on the general sanitation situation of Accra.
They have been given up to Thursday to completely vacate the premises.
Speaking on Atinka TV’s morning show, Ghana Nie with Abena Dufie Asare Adjepong, the Chairman of the Onion Sellers Association at Agbogbloshie Market, Alhaji Saali Ahmadu Power, said although they were told about the money during the meeting, they were also told allocation was being processed.
“The Regional Minister did not allow us to talk. We do not know why he did not allow us to talk. They have not finished with the market at Adjen Kotoku. We are just going to hang in there but we will go. By Tuesday, we will take our belongings and go there but some of us will go back to the North because the place is not big enough to contain all of us,” he said.
When asked if the onion sellers requested for the said amount for them, he said they did not, adding that they were only asked about their number of which he said they were more than 10,000.
Meanwhile, he said the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council did not take their data.
He, however, appealed to the Regional Minister to give them up to Tuesday to completely pack their belongings from Agbogbloshie.
Ghana| Atinkaonline.com| Porcia Oforiwaa Ofori
Writers email: [email protected]
