The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has taken serious notice of all the concerns that have been raised by the East Legon Residents Association over the stretch of land parallel to the Tema Motorway. The area, which has been earmarked for the construction of a craft village by AMA, has been the source of much friction between AMA and the residents of the area. The project is geared primarily towards the relocation of people in the handicraft business, scattered around the metropolis, to a new site at East Legon.

The Senior Public Relations Officer of the AMA, Mr. Charles Parker-Allotey said yesterday that the assembly had no intention of taking unilateral decisions regarding the development of that piece of land or any other land under its jurisdiction. "We recognize that they are the residents of the area, therefore we will do everything to assist them and more importantly, reach a compromise on the matter". To this end, Mr. Parker-Allotey said AMA would be meeting with the leadership of the East Legon Residents Association in the next few days.

In a statement issued to the media after a meeting last Friday, the residents, resolved that the decision of AMA to relocate the handicraft industries around the metropolis to the site, could pose serious security, safety and sanitation problems for residents. They expressed the fear that the relocation would bring a large number of squatters settling on the site and this may result in the ascendancy of armed robbery and the creation of ghettos similar to Sodom and Gomorah, in Accra.

The statement also said there would be a number of intrusions on the motorway and along the roads of East Legon, with the possibility of turning the serene environment of the area into that of a busy market place. "We believe that there would be a lot of commercial activities which would affect vehicular traffic, leading to the cause of accidents and the unnecessary loss of lives," the statement said. On the problem of sanitation, the residents said the business of handicraft production yields large volumes of waste and this would compound the existing problems of garbage collection facing people in that vicinity.

As a first class residential area, the residents said, the relocation exercise will result in the reduction of the values of properties and loss of investments. Illegal connections for electricity and water, would also become a serious problem, which would affect the wellbeing of residents and their properties.

Mr. Kobla Abgeli-Wortorsti, a resident of the area and the convenor of the meeting, told ADM in an interview that AMA failed to consult residents of the area about their plans. "All we saw was that a sod cutting ceremony had taken place, followed by the clearing of the site". In addition to issuing a statement, he said the association would soon send a four-man delegation to present a petition to AMA Chief Executive, Mr. Solomon Darko, prevailing upon him to withdraw the plan. He said, the residents would also present an alternative development plan for the site to the AMA.

"Our suggestion is to develop that stretch of land into a green park with trees and gardens to serve the needs of the residents as well as beautify the area," he said. Other facilities including the construction of a children's recreational centre, he said, would be welcome news for the area.

Asked whether the residents have the right to question the use of a government land by the authorities, Mr. Wortorsti replied in the affirmative and accused AMA of doing nothing for residents of East Legon. He said landlords pay an amount of 500,000 cedis as property rates annually and are also responsible for providing the funds for the construction of drainage and roads. He said they also pay private companies to collect refuse, "this therefore gives us the right to decide the future and the development of our community".

AMA Chief Executive, Mr. Solomon Darko, however says the proposed project falls in line with the government's poverty reduction strategy. The objectives of the strategy include, providing special programmes in support of the vulnerable in society, increasing production, promoting sustainable livelihoods, ensuring sound economic management for accelerated growth and giving direct support to the vulnerable in society

In line with these objectives, the Chief Executive says, all handicraft workers in the metropolis especially those located at unapproved locations within the city are to be relocated to the handicraft village at East Legon. The village would be provided with amenities like cafeteria, showrooms, and modern places of convenience. If AMA's plans go according to schedule, the site would be ready for occupation in two months. Not much time, it seems, left for the residents to restrain AMA.