Accra, Oct. 11, GNA - The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) on Thursday gave Editors of the various newspapers a two-week ultimatum to construct new and well-designed newsstands that would befit the capital or all such old structures would be demolished.

They are also to provide street vendors with jackets or aprons to make them look presentable while vendors are not to sublet their spaces to hawkers, the Chief Executive of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, Stanley Nii Adjiri Blankson said when the editors called on him in Accra on Thursday.

The editors and executives of the Ghana Journalists Association, Private Newspaper Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG) and the Vendors Association appealed to the AMA to give them time to address the issue of newsstands which are due to be demolished in the decongestion exercise to hit the capital on October 15.

The Accra Mayor asked them to meet the deadline so that the purpose of the exercise was not defeated.

The decongestion exercise is expected to rid the capital of all unauthorized structures and give it a facelift in preparation for CAN 2008. The exercise would also affect East Legon, Labone, Tetteh Quarshie Interchange and Spintex Road.

Nii Adjiri Blankson said this was to accord these first class residential areas the befitting status they deserved and enable them to pay first class property rate.

He said Mpeasem, Oponglo, Abotsiman and La Bawaleshi, all villages around the East Legon areas, would be exempted from the exercise. About 700 personnel from the Police, AMA and the National Youth Employment Programme would be deployed for the exercise until the end of CAN 2008, when skeleton personnel would be left.

Nii Adjiri said the beaches would also not be left out and he called on the media to support the exercise by educating the public. Mr Ransford Tetteh, GJA President and Spokesperson of the group, said they had called on the mayor to appeal for time to address the problem.

"We are not here to challenge the resolution passed by the Assembly that newsstands be included in the decongestion exercise, but to appeal for time to address the issue."

He contended that the meeting had become necessary because if the issue was not carefully addressed it could stifle the press and lead to loss of revenue to media outlets.

Mrs Gina Blay, President of PRINPAG, expressed appreciation to AMA for the grace period and assured the Mayor of improved and well designed newsstands that befitted the capital.