The Business Development Manager at the Sekondi-Takoradi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Emmanuel Otto has indicated that the Jomoro District Assembly in the Western Region has breach a contract it signed with displaced artisans at Elubo.
He says the chamber is “surprised at how artisans who ply their trade near the Elubo border have been treated.”
Artisans who were along the Elubo Agona Nkwanta road numbering over 400 have been displaced by the expansion of the Agona Nkwanta Elubo stretch.
The assembly promised and signed an agreement to provide an alternative place for them.
Currently more than half of the artisans have been rendered jobless.
Mr. Otto says the assembly is responsible for the harm done to the artisans.
“We facilitated that arrangement involving the assembly, the artisans and land owners at Elubo. The Jomoro District Assembly agreed to purchase or rent from the land owners and develop it for the artisans who were occupying the main road at Elubo. But because no money was paid by the assembly to the land owners, today, it is sorry to say that the artisans are rendered jobless.” Mr. Otto bemoaned.
He says the Jomoro District assembly knowing how helpful the artisans have been in generating revenue, was to act without delay to acquire land and to get the ‘distressed’ artisans in business.
“Elubo is one of the hottest communities in the Jomoro district; we (Sekondi-Takoradi Chamber of Commerce and Industry) were thinking that it shouldn’t be that somebody from outside prompting them on what should have been done. They were to be smart enough to fix a very good place for them. In fact we are surprised at the sort of attitude that the assembly is putting up. Indeed we had assurances from them, but its one thing having assurance and fulfilling assurances that have been made.” Mr. Otto stated.
By: Obrempong Yaw Ampofo/citifmonline.com/Ghana