Traders obstruct construction work on Achimota road

As government is making efforts to improve upon our road networks in the city of Accra, some Ghanaians are retarding progress on some ongoing construction works.

Traders at Achimota, near the St. Johns School, are making it difficult for ongoing construction work, on the expansion of the Achimota-Ofankor dual-carriageway, to progress smoothly.

When the Accra File got to the scene, the market women had taken over the already congested road, thus exacerbating the already congested traffic.

This situation, which is not only restricted to the Achimota road, but most of the major roads in the city of Accra, poses not only a danger to these traders and their clients, but also to the road users.

Although these traders are supposed to use the Dome Market, for their trading activities, they have chosen to use the road in front of the St. Johns Grammar School, which is undergoing construction, for their businesses.

Their attitude is holding up the progress of the road contractor, and at the same time causing a nuisance to the road users.

The traders are fully aware of the consequences of their activities, but rather hurl insults and taunts, on pedestrians and drivers, who complain about their presence, and the inconveniences they were creating.

On the visit by the Accra File, it was noticed that work on the portion of road, close to where the market women were doing their trading activities, had been abandoned by the contractor.

These women traders do not only retard the construction work, but also leave the place very dirty with the remains of the products – they trade mostly in food items.

In an interview with some of the market women, they complained bitterly about making very low sales in the Dome Market, that was why they chose to do business on the road, even though they were aware that what they were doing was not right.

When questioned why they did not prefer the main market, they said because they all sold almost the same items in the main market, and there were not enough customers for them all to make enough profits, they had been compelled to use the road where there were a lot more customers.

The traders further contended that even though there were empty spaces at the market, when they occupy those places to trade, others come claiming the vacant spots and eject them.