The Mayor of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), Michael Kpakpo Allotey, has launched a scathing attack on former Defence Minister Dominic Nitiwul, describing him as a deceptive politician who opposes national development following his recent comments on the Agbogbloshie yam market redevelopment.
Mr Nitiwul, who serves as the Member of Parliament for Bimbilla, had raised concerns over what he alleged was a targeted attempt to relocate traders from a section of the market predominantly occupied by Konkombas, while leaving other areas untouched.
However, reacting to the claims on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM’s flagship morning show, Frontline, Mayor Allotey firmly rejected the allegations, accusing the MP of lying and deliberately misleading the public to score cheap political points and stall progress.
Addressing host Kwabena Agyapong, the Mayor clarified that he had personally visited the market over 15 times prior to the rollout of the government’s 24-hour market initiative and was actively involved in demarcating the site selected for redevelopment.
He accused Mr Nitiwul of acting like a politician who resists development and uses divisive narratives to derail vital government infrastructure projects.
According to Mayor Allotey, funds for the market project were secured two years ago, and the contractor has already been mobilized to commence work.
“It is not every individual who wants progress. But we should be proud as Ghanaians that God has given us a leader such as President John Dramani Mahama. He is a visionary, and one of his agendas is to construct the 24-hour markets. For almost two years now, we have received funding to construct the market, but we needed to select a location where, when the market is constructed, it will benefit everyone,” Mayor Allotey stated.
He further explained: “Upon review and selection, we settled on the area earmarked for the market. Currently, we don’t have any nursery, hospital or clinic, fire service station, or even a police station there. That is why we decided to construct the market in that location. The vision of President Mahama is laudable, and we have to support him. We had engaged with the traders and all other stakeholders in the area, and we were prepared to start work next week. The contractor is ready to start work because he has received funding, but my senior brother went there to deceive the people about the project. However, I want to assure the people that this is not an attempt to push some people out.”
The Mayor emphasised that President John Dramani Mahama has not directed any Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to evict any specific ethnic group or population for market developments.
He disclosed that a temporary two-acre site at the former onion market in Ablekuma Central has been prepared for the affected traders to erect temporary structures, ensuring their business continuity while construction takes place, after which they will be permanently relocated to the newly built facility.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana