Over 300 traders who ply their activities at the Odwana Market at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, have been ordered by a court to relocate to allow for ongoing works on the Kwame Nkrumah interchange.
Two months ago, the Department of Urban Roads ordered the traders to vacate the area, but they resisted and demanded to be compensated.
Citi News’ Philip Lartey reported on Tuesday that works on the interchange close to the Odawna Market will soon resume, hence the need for the traders to be evicted.
The traders are however unhappy because they are not being compensated for the relocation.
Some of the disgruntled traders who spoke to Philip Nii Lartey lamented the fact they were being stripped of their livelihood.
“The court says we should go. That is why we are packing our goods but our problem is that they should pay us because from now going, we will be selling nothing but we have children so how are we going to eat, how are we going to survive.”
A male trader told Citi News he was going to move his goods from the area but was not going to relocate until he is compensated.
“We are begging the Urban Roads Department to come and settle us. We are removing our goods from here but we are staying here until they pay us before we leave.”
The Acquisition and Utility Coordination Officer at the Urban Roads Department, Alex Kojo Asamoah told Citi News his outfit’s hands were tied concerning the payment of compensation because they are still waiting on the court for further instructions.
“The payment hangs on them when they [the court] will finish with the evaluation report, when they will go through all the processes and that will give orders of payment. We are ready to pay but the process must be completed,” he explained.
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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Photo credit: Philip Nii Lartey