A process to get traders at the Kejetia lorry terminal in Kumasi relocated has suffered a setback as shop-owners boycotted a scheduled stakeholder’ meeting to iron out their differences.
The relocation plan is to pave the way for the redevelopment of the Kumasi Central Market.
City Mayor, Kojo Bonsu, and other interest groups, including minority representatives of MPs, are disappointed as the traders failed to show up.
The Kejetia shop owners recently served notice they will only agree to be relocated if the KMA engages them in further dialogue.
They also requested the Assembly signs a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), witnessed by MPs and their lawyers, before moving out.
The meeting was to enable the traders table their concerns in the relocation arrangements and to draft a MoU for consideration by stakeholders.
MP for Manhyia North, Collins Owusu Amankwah, representing Ashanti regional MPs and Lawyer, Owusu Afriyie, were disappointed as the shop owners’ failed to show up.
“I’m not happy because we were made to represent this particular meeting to champion the course of the traders and to be frank with you, they petitioned the minority and I was assigned by the caucus to represent them only to see that some of them failed and even the very people who sent their petition failed to attend the meeting”, MP for Manhyia North told Luv News.
Former General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie (Sir John) noted, “It is at this meeting that whatever doubts there are could be ironed out, if you fail to turn up, you don’t help the process”.
Chairman of the Kejetia Traders Association, Mr. Obeng later told Luv News Erastus Asare Donkor, they boycotted the meeting because a letter of invitation from the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), indicated they should come with their lawyer to sign an agreement when they have not agreed on anything.
But the KMA disagrees.
Public Relations Officer, Godwin Okumah Nyame, told Luv News, they could still have shown up to register their displeasure.
The meeting has been rescheduled for Tuesday March 10, 2015.
This article has 0 comment, leave your comment.