By Rachel Kakraba
Traders at the Pedestrian Shopping Mall at the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange may have to wait for the market as the Municipal Assembly makes strides to attract investors.
Fire they say it’s a good servant but a bad master. It is therefore not surprising that fire brought to ground zero the Pedestrian Shopping Mall at the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange. In order to sustain their livelihoods, traders were forced to sell on the pavements, a development which worsened congestion at that part of the city. As part of Operation Clean your Frontage by City Authorities the traders were relocated to the yet-to-be-reconstructed Pedestrian Market, as promised by Government what is the progress of work on the Pedestrian Shopping Mall Redevelopment Project, almost two years after it was ravaged by fire.
Background
The market was built in 2007 to accommodate traders who hitherto sold along the streets in and around the Kwame Nkrumah Circle. Products on display for sale included footwear, clothing, food, stationery, toiletries, cosmetics, groceries, home appliances, and hair products, among others. The market, which provides the shopping needs of commuters to and from the Central Business District, has unfortunately not been spared the ravages of fire outbreaks. Traders say the November 18, 2020, fire accident, is the fifth fire to gut the market. It was a traumatizing morning for the traders as some recounted events of the disaster.
Madam Agie said, “We were home when we heard of the fire. By the time I got here everything was gone”
“I was into second-hand clothing. It was getting to the yultide and I had imported goods worth more than a hundred million cedis. The incident I’m told happened around 11pm. By the time I got here around 3 am the place had been cordoned off so I lost everything” another trader added.
President Akufo-Addo reassures traders
The gravity of the inferno attracted some attention, including that of President Akufo-Addo, who directed that funds be made available to pay the traders to ameliorate their suffering. How inclusive was that exercise? While some traders claimed they received compensation, others claimed they did not and blamed it on poor leadership, greed, and self-interest on the part of some.
Hajia Zaratu said “Indeed compensation was paid to us. I recieved mine and has been told it would be repaid”
Monica “We lost a lot to the fire. With regard to the compensation I recieved mine which I have used to start life”
Amina Ibrahim “I never received compensation, I gathered someone intentionally took my name out. I have never wished well for those persons”
“I honestly received the compensation which was paid to us, madam Cecilia added.
Reconstruction of the market
Today with the aid of mostly umbrellas, tents, and in some cases under the scorching sun some of the traders are making a living. What is the progress of work on government’s promise to see it reconstructed into an ultra-modern market.
Auntie Agie said, all that we have heard is the market has been sold. We will embark on a demonstration to signal we are determined to see the market reconstructed.
Mara “The president visited us and assured us of reconstruction. However, we haven’t seen any progress made on this” promise.
Benjamin Johnson, business has been very slow, it’s not been like first. We have been looking forward for the government to build it for us, but there is no construction or foundation that has even started to tell us that in a year’s time or so it will be built for us.
He added “if government can construct it for us and every month we are paying something small so it can become yours after payment. They should do something reasonable for us because all of can’t work in the corporate sector”
Hajia Zaratu, “What I’m expecting is to see some structure constructed for us. They should start something for us to see we have not been neglected”
Nana Agyei “We have been expecting the market to be constructed but that is yet to happen. This has made trading here extremely difficult as we are unable to get a place to store our goods. We are constantly disturbed by the weather. We are appealing for the construction to begin in earnest” .
Challenges
The inability of the Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly to reconstruct the market almost two years after the incident is a source of worry to traders. The situation according to them makes them sell under very precarious condition.
Hajia Zaratu “Selling in this market is a depressing experience, you hardly make any progress in your life”
Benjamin Johnson, wooden structures like this nobody will take you serious. It’s not safe the floods too when it rains. You can’t rent store too it’s expensive so we are managing here small small”
Another trader, Auntie Agie said “Majority of the people know the market has been destroyed by fire and will not come here to shop. We are confronted with thieves, faeces’ and also at the mercy of the weather”
“This market can be best described as a park. All kinds of indiscriminate activity takes place here, added another trader.
Hamdia “Traders here are really suffering and the President must take special interest in our case”
Theresa deals in second-hand clothing she said “What I’m expecting, is to see some structure constructed for us. They should start something for us to see we have not been neglected”
It is not only traders who have concerns, but customers as well. One of them is Michael Trudo who was spotted meandering his way through the congestion to purchase stationery for his ward.
He said “They should re-establish the market again and then drive away those on the pavements because its dangerous to the cars and then themselves. They should come to the aid of our mothers”.
Leadership of Traders Association
Chairperson of the Pedestrian Shopping Mall Traders Association, Victoria Boakye is not enthused about how compensation was paid to affected traders.
“The assembly made us aware they have a data they were going to work with. At the end of the day some of the beneficiaries were people who did not have any business in the market. This makes us believe the assembly has deceived us.
Madam Boakye added “This is fifth time fire has gutted the market. President Akufo Addo touched by our plight promised to ensure it is rebuilt into a modern market. That project was to be under municipal assembly. What is the assembly doing to ensure this is done. Can the MCE Adjei Tawiah confidently say he is committed to this project? He should do more so it becomes a legacy of his administration”
Touching on what could be delaying the reconstruction of the market she said, “Flooding is a major concern and we understand that it will be resolved under a GARID project. We want to question when that project will take place to bring some respite to us”
Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly on delays with the reconstruction project
The Market is located within the Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly, which spearheading all the works on the market, so the issue was followed up with the MCE James Tawiah.
“When the fire came we had enough data to deal with. But the Ghanaian thing as soon as there is fire or disaster the list get bloated. If there is a data the AMA had done that is not what we used we started afresh”
On the delay in the reconstruction of the market Mr. Tawiah said, “Why the delay, although we were not praying for fire, now that we have the opportunity to organize, the drains have to done in such a way that when it rains the water can flow easily into the Odaw. There’s a programme too GARID, that programme is going to make sure that the waters that is coming from the mountain areas that come through our municipality flows easily. They have to also understand from our end that we can’t just come and put brick and mortar there”
MCE addresses issues of tolls
On payment of daily tolls of 2.50p the MCE said a lot of sensitization was done before its reintroduction in February this year.
“We have supported them, through the support of the regional Minister, we have had about fifty trips of laterites to fill the place so they can work from there. We have explained to them, they also have to show some commitment. If they are going to fight us every step of the way it is going to be very very difficult”
Take of Greater Accra Resilient Integrated Development project
It almost seems reconstruction of the market is hinged on completion of the Greater Accra Resilient Integrated Development project, better known as GARID project which is being undertaken in the assembly. Consequently, they were contacted. Drainage Engineer with GARID Kodwo Keelson provides details of the project.
“Most of the drains would be constructed underground, so it wouldn’t be prudent to construct something and then come and excavate and put drains underground. The Pedestrian Shopping Mall is one of them we have asked the Assembly to hold on a little bit, but we are also looking at the situation where construction can start where the drains wont really pass”.
Conclusion
The Kwame Nkrumah Interchange area is flood prone, a reason safety must be prioritised to mitigate the impact of floods in the area. That notwithstanding, the condition under which traders sell is worrying as they are at the mercy of the weather. Some sense of urgency is therefore required to complete the project for the assembly to rake in the needed revenue as well as bring relief to traders. After all, a well planned, structured modern market in a strategic area like Nkrumah Interchange is an addition to the beautiful Accra we all yearn for.
