AMA To Modernise Salaga, Adabraka Markets

THE ACCRA Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) will soon modernise and expand the Salaga and Adabraka markets to accommodate more traders.

In view of this, traders in the two markets would be relocated pending the completion of the project.

Stanley Nii Adjiri Blankson, Mayor of Accra, disclosed this at the first Ordinary Meeting of the 4th AMA on Tuesday.

According to him, the move formed part of the decongestion exercise designed to keep hawkers away from the Central Business District and ensure a clean environment.

Mr Blankson said it additionally sought to improve upon the assembly's revenue generation from the collection of market tolls.

In the third quarter of 2006, he said, the assembly collected ¢104.9 billion despite an expected target of ¢177.7 billion.

“Our expenditure at the same period stood at ¢90.1 billion as against the estimate of ¢177.7 billion,” he pointed out.

The Mayor disclosed plans were far advanced to re-evaluate properties and businesses in the Accra Metropolis and update their number.

Mr Blankson noted in spite of over 150,000 properties in the metropolis, the assembly had only 70,611 on its database.

He added that frantic efforts were being made in collaboration with the Land Valuation Board to get the number updated.

The Mayor disclosed ¢20 billion had so far been spent on the Pedestrians Shopping Mall at Odawna - a cost which was borne by the Central Government and AMA.

With the completion of the stalls, 4,000 hawkers had been stationed there.

Touching on waste disposal, the MCE disclosed that Government had acquired a new landfill site at Kwabenya, stressing the project which had already gulped over 3 million Euros from state coffers, had initially met a few setbacks causing its delay.

He added that this had resulted in the World Bank threatening to withdraw its $10 million contribution to the project.

“If this happens, it is not going to be a disaster for Accra alone but for our sister districts, Ga East and Ga West.

Also the amount of money already pumped into the project would become a waste and that would not augur well for a developing country like ours,” he posited.

Mr. Adjiri Blankson indicated serious efforts were being made to review the 12-year-old bye-laws of the assembly and new ones on production, distribution and sale of sachet water would be drafted.

The Accra Mayor took the opportunity to welcome newly-elected members to the assembly, expressing the hope that they will co-operate with the AMA to achieve its objectives.

“In this regard, I look forward to a healthy working relationship- a relationship devoid of acrimony, back-biting, unfounded allegations, 'pull-him-down syndrome' and partisan sentiments.”

By Mike Avickson