By Rukaiyatu Musah
Congestion has become a normalcy at the Kasoa New Market Lorry Park to the point that the Municipal Chief Executive for Awutu Senya East, Anita Obo Amissah says the intended demolition of some containers within the Kasoa New Market Lorry Park has become necessary and cannot be compromised.
Speaking to GBC News Madam Obo Amissah said the Assembly is in consultation with relevant stakeholders to ensure the exercise is carried out smoothly.
GBC’s Rukayatu Musah reports that upon reaching the Kasoa New Market Car Park, some traders have begun moving their containers whilst others seemed adamant.
The congestion is one of vehicular and human traffic.
Heaps of quarrying stones and sand were seen in the parking area close to the road.
Some traders who spoke to GBC News were not happy about the development.
”Simply the Assembly is evicting us, to construct a three storey shopping complex”, they said.
”Our main problem is that, when the stores are even built it would be given to others, but when we are assured of getting some no problem”, a trader stated.
Another said,”We will resist any attempt to sack us from here, when they sack us we will return until they give us a better place to do business”.
”We have kids and we do not have a place to go and sell, if not we will indulge in armed robbery”, lamented this trader.
Some of the drivers said they were told they will be stationed at the forecourt of the stores when built, but, most of them said already, the Police are constantly taking money from them for parking outside the station, hence, the construction of the stores will rather worsen the vehicular and human traffic, especially on market days. They therefore called for the cancellation of the project.
”We were here when they came telling us to remove our structures and they later said after the building of the shopping complex they will relocate to the forecourt”, a driver noted.
”The space here is too small for the cars to park, hence others have resorted to pack on the other side of the road. The Police also take money from us. We are calling on the President to come to our aid because where the stores are built it would not help us the drivers”, this driver spoke for his colleagues”.
President of the Odupong-Kpehe Market Retailers Association, Comfort Agyare said the Assembly has not discussed the construction of the stores with them, also, the construction, when done, will create a huge problem for the market.
”The Assembly has not discussed the building of the stores with us”.
”We just heard it from those asked to remove their containers. The stores when constructed will create problems for us. The park is the original parking space designated for the market. We are rather looking for the new DCE to evacuate all the traders within the park to occupy the sheds and stores already built in the market”, Madam Agyare stated.
The MCE, for Awutu Senya East Anita Love Obo Amissah said the purpose of the demolition is to decongest the place and not necessarily the building of stores.
”We are still in discussion with the Chief, the parties involved and the Contractor as well. If it becomes necessary that he or she has to be relocated the Assembly is going to do that.
She asked traders within the Car Park area to go back and occupy their shed and stores.
