The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Michael Okyere Baafi, has urged traders at the Zamrama market in Koforidua to embrace change and cooperate with the government’s plans to develop the Eastern Regional Capital.
The traders have been witnessing strong resistance against the municipal assembly’s plans to relocate them to a new place to pave the way for the construction of an ultramodern shop, a World Bank-funded project.
The project aims to open up the market space to accommodate more traders.
However, Mr Okyere Baafi, who is also the Member of Parliament for New Juaben South Constituency, has urged the traders to put aside their opposition and work with the government.
He believes that Koforidua has become a big municipality and needs new infrastructure and development.
“I believe Koforidua has become a very big municipality and a very important city in the country. So it can’t just be seen as a town operating in the old glory, we have to move on, there should be development, and there should be new infrastructure.
“We don’t want to see Koforidua as an old town, it should be seen as a new town and that’s why the project we want to execute as an assembly or constituency, people should be able to cooperate with us to undertake the project,” he said.
The Chief Executive of New Juaben South, Isaac Appau Gyasi, has also assured the traders that they will be given back their shops once the contractor hands over the completed project to the assembly.
He explained that sheds are being constructed at the Cocoa Shed area near the railway station, which will serve as an alternative location for the traders.
The contractor is expected to begin work at the end of the month, and the assembly is undertaking intensive sensitisation on the impending relocation of the traders.
The assembly has promised that before allowing the contractor to take over the place, they will provide an alternative place for the traders to continue their trade.
