Accra, Dec. 3 GNA -A section of traders at the Odwanaa Hawkers Market on Monday protested against a decision by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to close two emergency gates, which they claim, would hamper their businesses.

They complained that the recent closures of those two gates affected their sales and plunged many of them into debts that they had still not finished paying.

The traders, who were very agitated made the complaint during a tour of the market by Mr. Peter Mac Manu, National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Ohene Ntow, General Secretary of the NPP and some members of the National Executives of the party. The delegation also included Sheikh Ibrahim Cudjoe Quaye, Greater Accra Regional Minister and Mr. Stanley Nii Adjiri Blankson, Mayor of Accra.

Before the visit by the National Executives to the Odornaa Hawkers Market and the Old and New Tema Stations, some traders had complained to the party that the recent decongestion exercise carried out by AMA had affected their businesses and thus rendered them jobless. They asked the AMA to carry out any such exercise with a human face since most of them were breadwinners of their families.

Mr Adjiri Blankson, Mayor of Accra promised traders at the Old and New Tema Stations that they would be allowed to sell their wares at particular demarcated places at the lorry stations. He said the place had already been awarded on contract for it to be tarred so that they could go about their trading activities without any problem.

Mr Mac Manu assured the traders that the party was not anti-business as claimed by some people. He said it is one of the aims of the party to create a conductive atmosphere where citizens and foreigners alike could conduct their business activities in peace. He said it is the job of the city authorities to ensure that people would conduct their business activities in a conducive and healthy environment. Nana Ohene Ntow, General Secretary of NPP said he was happy that alternative places had been found for the traders to do their businesses. He appealed to the media to follow up on complains brought to their attention as well as letting people know the good works of the AMA. "We need to clean our cities even as we have to provide alternative livelihood for our people," he added.