DOUBLE-STANDARD AT PLAY



MEMBERS OF the Global Handicrafts Association (GHA) located at the Tetteh Quarshie interchange have expressed disappointment over plans by the Accra Metropolitan Authority (AMA) and the Lands Commission to deny them of their livelihood by removing them away from the 3.56-acre land they had been operating from over the years, and leasing it to a private developer for 50 years.
Documents available indicate that on September 6, 2011, the site was leased to Abdex Integration Company Limited (AICL) for 50 years at a cost of GHc107, 500.00, with effect from March 1, 2011 to February 28, 2061.
An agreement signed between Oko Nikoi Dzani, Chairman of the Greater Accra Regional Lands Commission and Hanspeter Baer (Director) as well as Abena Nyarkoa Baer (Managing Director) AICL, expected the company to pay the ground rent of GHc3, 870.00 per annum.
The GHA, which has been dealing in the production and selling of artifacts from the site, has been in existence for about 20 years. It is an affiliate of the Local Government Workers Union of the Trades Union Congress.
Investigations conducted by this reporter exposed that the Association, which has over 200 shops with a membership of 500, applied to the AMA for the lease of the land, which the latter assured the members of searching through if the land was vacant, after which it was confirmed to be vacant.
The application letter, which was signed by its Chairman, Francis Agbete noted, “Our aim is to develop the Art Market properly to meet the standard of modern craft village but we cannot meet this aim without the help of the AMA. Based on this, we are pleading with you to help us apply to the Lands Commission on our behalf if possible for the land to be leased to the Association.”
It concluded, “We hope with your help and supervision, together we will create employment, boosting the tourism industry and helping to achieve the vision of branding Ghana agenda.”
After the GHA had submitted its application to the AMA in February 2010, the Deputy Administrator, Ben Armah told them the members that the Chief Executive, Alfred Oko Vanderpuije was to take a decision on the application.
Meanwhile, a response to the then Metro Coordinating Director on May 20, 2001, the GHA reassured the AMA that it would continue to ensure that members relentlessly adhere to conditions set for them to be strictly observed.
However, to their utmost dismay, someone came to the site one day to start counting the shops available there, and when they inquired from him, they were informed that, GS International Developers (GH) Limited had applied to the AMA to be allowed to rebuild the market in which they were to incorporate the Art market into their plan.
GS International on November 4, 2008, applied for development permit for the construction of a drain along the parcel of land, which lies by the former Secaps Hotel, and re-zoning of the area for the use of office complex, super market, warehouse, and restaurant, among others.
It likewise sent a proposal to the Lands Commission in 2010 concerning the land, and the company went ahead to undertake the exercise it had applied for after it was granted a Right of Entry by the Lands Commission.
The Statutory Planning Committee of the AMA at its second meeting held on March 19, 2010 discussed and approved the application, which was submitted 16 clear months earlier, and requested that the private developer paid GHc2, 000.00 as approval fee to the Metro Director of the Town and Country Planning Department of the AMA, and that preparation of the re-zoning plan would only commence after full payment of the stated amount, of which the company complied.
The Hydrological Services Department (HDS) also granted GS International permission to commence work on the construction of the drain as designed, and it was to be supervised by the HDS.
What is worrying is that the same Lands Commission that leased the land to AICL, gave permit of entry to GS International in 2008, a situation the group described as double-standard being exhibited by both the AMA and Lands Commission stretching that the AMA was not forthright with them.
Until their settlement at the present location, the members were scattered around the Tetteh Quarshie roundabout and because of the disturbances they faced from the AMA, they came together to form the Association, paving the way for them to be settled at their present site, after the leadership of the TUC Workers Union had written a letter to the AMA to allow the group operate from the location.
Information available to this paper revealed that the land had changed several hands from one Mr. Berchi, to Kofi Agyemang, who also gave it to another party before being leased to Abdex.
In the meantime, search at the Lands Commission indicated that the lease of the site was orchestrated by a bigwig from the seat of government, and the paper will continue to unravel who actually was behind the deal.
The Art market, which is one of the well patronized tourist attractions for Ghanaians and foreigners alike, is a preferred choice than the Arts Centre considering the low prices of the artifacts, as well as no harassment against patrons of the place. Moreover, due to its proximity to the Kotoka International Airport vis-à-vis the many hotels around, makes tourists to patronize the place the most.
Members of the Association have declared to demonstrate against the move after dialogue has proved futile, saying that once they were doing legitimate business, and for that matter, promoting tourism, which is the fourth foreign income earner, they will fight for a just course.
“If you are a social democrat and you are collapsing social interventions, then we are not saved. If the government cannot be of help in developing the place, we will get investors to do so, and hence, they should not displace the over 500 members out of job, rather, they should help us create more of such jobs,” maintained Mr. Agbete.