Onion traders at Agbogbloshie near old Fadama in Accra have been given a seven-week ultimatum to vacate the area and relocate to Adjen Kotoku, in the Ga West Municipality of the Greater Accra Region. The directive by the Greater Accra Regional Minister Mr. Henry Quartey is to make way for the development of the area which they currently occupy.
Government had established a new market at Adjen Kotoku over decades ago in a bid to decongest the central business district. The market however remains abandoned. After series of meetings between the Greater Accra Regional Minister and the Ghana onion sellers Associations an agreement has been reached for all onion sellers who ply their trade at Agbogbloshie near old Fadama in Accra to relocate to the Adjen Kotoku market by July 1, 2021. After inspecting the market Mr. Heney Quartey said the facility is in good shape to house the onion traders.
Mr. Quartey has also intimated that under his leadership, the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council (RCC), would strive to provide lasting solutions to developmental challenges in the region and ensure its swift transformation into a national capital of repute.
The Minister has also promised to put an end to trading along major streets in Accra as the activity generates a lot of filth. Citing the Graphic Road as an example, the minister urged all traders at unauthorized locations and pavements to move and has given a two-week ultimatum to traders to vacate the areas to sheds provided in the markets.
On Sunday the Minister, Henry Quartey met with the leadership of the onion sellers and some stakeholders in Accra and later toured the site designated to the onion sellers at Adjen kotoku with the leadership of the onion sellers and the stakeholders to have a better understanding of the nature of the site at Adjen kotoku.
The decongestion exercise is part of the Minister’s ‘Let’s make Accra work’ campaign to improve conditions in the national capital. So far, Henry Quartey has met administrative officers in the region in addition to some other initiatives to realize the agenda.
The Greater Accra Regional Minister entreated Ghanaians to join the “let’s make Accra work again campaign” to rid the city of filth.
The Chairman of the Ghana Onion Sellers Association, Alhaji Tijani Mohammed assured the Minister that all members will move to the new market before the deadline.
He said they were initially sceptical and reluctant but since the new site is permanently designated to them together with adequate social amenities, they are pleased and ready to relocate to the site.
