General News of Friday, 29 April 2005

Source: Daily Guide

Ban On Sachet Water Put On Hold

Adjiri Blankson & Sheikh I.C. Under Fire

After weeks of dilly-dallying with street traders and hawkers, adversely affected by the recent de-congestion exercise in the Central Business District (CBD) of Accra, President John Agyekum Kufuor yesterday issued a presidential summons to the metropolitan chief execute, Stanley Adjiri Blankson, and the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Hon. Sheikh I.C. Quaye and commanded them to resettle the traders immediately.

Daily Guide can confirm that the President is not happy with the delay in resettling the affected traders, numbering about 30,000. The traders had earlier threatened to go back to the streets to trade, having realised that Mr. Blankson was toying with their livelihood and dared the police to arrest them.

The Situation, Daily Guide learnt, was so serious that the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Hon. Sheikh I.C. Quaye, who was scheduled to travel to Iran, yesterday was barred from doing so, until the traders have been resettled.

The AMA boss? threat to ban sachet water (pure water) has also been put on hold, because such a policy is regarded not to be in the interest of the party and therefore called for a thorough negotiation with the water producers.