Accra Mayor Michael Apokpo Allotey has called on the Member of Parliament for Bimbilla and former Defence Minister, Dominic Nitiwul, to apologise to the people of Ghana over his comments on the redevelopment of the Agbogbloshie Market.
Speaking to Isaac Addae on Morning Starr on Starr FM, Mr Allotey defended the government’s decision to proceed with the project, arguing that major development initiatives can attract resistance before eventually transforming communities.
Mr Allotey said the previous NPP administrator’s Agenda 111 project was not criticised because, despite political difference, the initiative was ultimately seen as contributing to the development of the country, the same principal should apply to the Agbogbloshie Market redevelopment.
He also insisted that the government would not be deterred by efforts he described as attempts to frustrate the project
“They won’t sabotage this project. And what they don’t know is that no weapon formed against the 24-hour project, shall prosper,” he said.
Mr Allotey further appealed to the former Defence Minister to reconsider his position and apologise to the people over his comments.
He maintained that the redevelopment is intended to deliver more than a market, with plans for facilities including a hospital, police station, fire station, nursery and residential accommodation.
The Accra Mayor Michael Kpokpo Allotey also disclosed that the first phase of the project is expected to be completed within six months, while the second phase is expected to be completed within about a year and a half.
He argued that the project is necessary to provide proper spaces for traders who currently operate along roadsides and at traffic lights.
“People are at the roadside, where do you want them to go and sell? The people are selling on the traffic lights, where do you want them to go and sell?” he asked.
Mr Allotey reiterated the government’s commitment to the redevelopment and said opposition would not prevent it from pursuing the project.
Dominic Nitiwul had sparked intense public debate earlier after publicly claiming that the Accra Metropolitan Assembly’s (AMA) demolition and reconstruction plans selectively targeted Konkomba yam traders. Questioning whether there was a deliberate attempt to push the Konkomba ethnic group out of the capital, he directly appealed to President John Dramani Mahama to halt the project, warning that proceeding would be “politically suicidal”.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh/Pamela Quayson
