Regional News of Tuesday, 14 August 2007

Source: GNA

Tema Station traders petition AMA

Accra, Aug. 14, GNA - Traders at the Tema Station in Accra on Tuesday appealed to the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to reconsider it decision to eject them.

Mr. Daniel Adjetey, Chairman of the Tema Station United Traders Association, said AMA's decision to eject the traders would leave about 4,000 traders currently occupying the place unemployed since there was nowhere for them to move to.

Mr. Adjetey was briefing the media in Accra on the ejection order issued by Mr. Ali Baba Abature, Special Assistant to the Mayor of Accra, to the traders to leave the lorry station before August 16. He said the manner in which the AMA made its intentions known without first giving them prior notice was not the best.

Mr. Adjetey said the traders had been occupying the area for almost 15 years and had been fulfilling their financial obligations to the AMA and the government in terms of taxes, levies, tolls and rent. Mr. Adjetey noted that AMA gave the place to them for temporary settlement and urged the city authorities to provide them an alternative place to trade else they would be forced to trade on the streets. He said the association had petitioned the AMA and the Regional Minister and hoped that they would consider their plight and change their directive.