Sekondi, July 22, GNA - The decision of the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly to re-locate artisans from the city centre has still not taken off. This is because the Garages Association, which is leading in the acquisition of land for its members, has not been able to pay the cost of the land, situated at Kansaworodu, a suburb of Takoradi.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview at Sekondi on Monday Mr. John Laste, Public Relations Officer of the assembly, said the assembly was playing a facilitating role to ensure that the union assists its members to re-locate. Mr. Laste said the assembly would give the artisans time to adequately prepare and re-locate. He said the assembly would ensure that standard structures were designed for all the artisans to ensure uniformity and artisans would build their own structures while the assembly would provide social amenities. He said after the necessary ground work had been completed, the assembly would give all artisans a deadline for relocation and those who would fail would be prosecuted.

Mr. Jonathan Arhin, Sekondi Zonal chairman of the Garages Association, said the union had not been able to pay for the full cost of the land and therefore nothing serious had been done at the site. He said by March 2009, the re-location exercise would begin.