Traditional authorities and land owners have been urged to reserve portions of their lands for the development of markets, car parks, schools and places of convenience.
Mr Justice Amoah, the Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly (CCMA) Budget Planning Officer making the call on Tuesday, said that was important since in their endeavour to sell the lands to developers, such societal amenities should be considered and given attention.
He expressed concern about the rate at which lands meant for recreational centres and markets were being sold by landowners.
Mr Amoah was addressing an advocacy and stakeholders’ forum on the Abura Roads, which he noted should be rehabilitated to open up the area which had become a brisk business centre in the Cape Coast Metropolis.
The forum organised by the Cape Coast Branch of the Ghana Chamber of Commerce (CCCCI) and sponsored by the Business Sector Advocacy Challenge Fund (BUSAC), was attended by over 50 participants.
Held on the theme: “Advocacy to enhance Road Network in Abura Township”, the forum was to provide the platform to key stakeholders, especially businesses in Abura to be updated on the progress of work on the roads.
Mr Amoah said the Assembly was working with the Ghana Highway Authority and the Urban Roads Department to improve upon all the roads leading to the Abura town.
He said the Assembly had also sourced a World Bank fund to build a three storey market for Abura and appealed to all traders and market women to cooperate with it (Assembly) to have the project executed successfully.
Mr Vincent Annan, Executive Secretary of the Takoradi Chamber of Commerce, said due to the poor nature of roads in Abura, there was less patronage to the hospitality industry and tourist centres particularly at the Kakum National park.
He said the problem had also increased travelling time for raw materials from Abura to other markets in Cape Coast resulting in low revenue, increased cost of doing businesses, low business growth and relocation of some businesses.
Mr Annan said government’s bid to create an enabling environment for businesses should be manifested in the provision of social infrastructure such as roads and markets.
Mr Harry Ebenezer Mensah, Executive Chairman of CCCCI, said the Chamber’s objective was to ensure the growth of businesses, train their members as well as play advocacy roles to ensure businesses operate with less difficulty.
Nana Kojo Addae II, Aburahene, commended the Chamber for the advocacy role it was playing and appealed to the CCMA and the relevant stakeholders to speed up work on the roads as well as the construction of a modern market for the area.