According to the NDC parliamentary candidate, Lawyer Blay Armah, authorities of the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) have blocked all efforts by his outfit to help repair the dilapitating state of the Sekondi-Takoradi market.
Certain sections of the market is believed to be in terrible shape, forcing traders to close down their shops whenever it rains.
Lawyer Blay Armah indicates that he consulted the Coordinating Director of the Assembly and informed him of his intention to fix the roofing of the market for the traders but he was prevented.
“I have seen how the traders are suffering and the rainy season has worsened the situation. Most of the traders can’t sell whenever it rains so I went to see the situation and decided to fix the roofing for them. The administrator in the market initially told me to forget about my plans because I will not be allowed. I followed it up with the Coordinating Director who told me my plans cannot come to pass,” he told reporters.
According to him, the Coordinating Director was emphatic that the assembly has plans of fixing the market in the future.
“He said they have sent estimates of the market to the Finance Ministry and that they have plans of redeveloping the market to a modern status so even if they allow me to fix it, my investment will go to waste. But it is my money and even if I fix it today and it is taken off tomorrow, I won’t be bothered. The traders are suffering and the plan they are talking about did not start today. They have been promising to fix it over the years but nothing has happened there and the traders are suffering. A temporal solution is needed for now,” he added.
The Public Relations Officer of the Assembly, John Last, indicated that the assembly has earmarked the market for demolition. He adds that allowing any investment into the market will later go to waste.
“We have a programme dubbed the Sekondi Takoradi Integrated Market Development and we have already submitted the concept note and all proposals to the Finance Ministry through the Ministry of Local Government [Decentralisation and Rural Development]. So, we already have a program for the market, it has been planned for demolition. The Coordinating Director told them the assembly will not encourage any investment that will later go to waste,” he indicated.
Lawyer Blay Armah believes he is being prevented from finding temporary solutions for the market due to political reasons.
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