The Mayor of Accra, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, has assured traders at Makola No. 2 Market that a proposed rent increment and a disputed 20 percent charge would not take effect immediately, as the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) moves to engage management of the facility to resolve grievances that triggered the closure of shops at the market on Thursday.
The Mayor gave the assurance during a working visit to the market, where he interacted with the traders following a protest that began in the early hours of Thursday, February 26, disrupting trading activities in one of the capital’s busiest commercial hubs.
The traders shut their shops to protest what they described as exploitative rent conditions and the imposition of a 20 percent charge, after occupying the facility said to be owned by SSNIT for more than 30 years.
The traders also complained that components of the rent, including sanitation- and maintenance-related costs, were not translating into visible improvements within the market, arguing that the conditions were worsening while charges continued to rise.
Addressing the traders, the Mayor said the rent increase was not a directive from the President John Mahama or government and added that he had not instructed anyone to increase rent at the facility.
He said the government understood the plight of the traders and acknowledged the economic pressures they faced.
He assured the traders that the AMA and government would work to find amicable solutions, explaining that engagements would be held with the management of the facility to review the situation.
Until those discussions are concluded, he said the rent levels should remain unchanged.
Mr. Allotey stated that any future rent adjustment should be tied to development and improvement of the market space, indicating that increments would be unjustified if the facility’s condition did not improve.
He announced that the AMA would take over sanitation management in the area, including ensuring that accumulated refuse around the market was evacuated, as part of measures to improve the environment for business.
The Mayor encouraged the traders to channel concerns through the AMA for resolution, noting that he operated an open-door policy and was accessible to all residents, including the poor and persons with disabilities.
He appealed to the traders to remain calm and patient, assuring them that the Government was listening and had taken steps to engage them to find a solution.
Following the engagement, some traders who spoke expressed appreciation for the intervention, with a number of them thanking President John Dramani Mahama and the Mayor for what they described as a responsive approach.
They said the visit had given them hope that the matter would be resolved through dialogue and that their businesses would be protected from what they considered excessive demands.