The Sekondi Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly has begun a process leading to compensation of all residents of the Assembly quarters around Ahenfie Hotel, Takoradi, who are expected to relocate by the close of August.
According to some anonymous residents, they were initially promised Gh 250 per month for two year rent but after a meeting, the Assembly decided to increase the rent to 300gh for each residents and extended the deadline for the relocation to August ending.
“When they met us, they told us that the time has been extended to close of August instead of August 7. We have been given uptill Wednesday 22nd July 2020 to submit rent documentation or allocated lettter to prove residency. The initial rent amount has been increase from 250gh to 300gh for two years. This means each resident is expected to recieve GH7200”.
Residents where initially given 7th August to relocate but after several appeals by some anonymous residents on “Adzekye Mu Nsem” on Spice Fm 91.9, John Laste, Public Relation Officer of the Assembly responded by assuring the residents that a meeting will be held among stakeholders for the time to be extended.
“We will hold a meeting with all stakeholders to look into the issues again to reconsider “.
Reacting to relocation of the residents, Western Regional Minister and MP for Takoradi Constituency Kobby Okyere Darko-Mensah, said that residents who came on radio to make this development known to the general public was an expression of bad faith.
“That was expression of bad faith; I think they shouldn’t have come on radio station in the first place, because they didn’t have any difficulty with the Assembly taken such a decision. Even if they had an issue they should have resolved it with the Assembly..”
He added that, residents have been informed about the relocation long time ago but the assembly was not ready with financial obligation associated with excercise therefore they were asked to hold on.
“The call for the relocation happened long ago in Hon K.K Sam’s Era, some of demolitions even started but I told them to stop because I wanted the assembly to be financial ready to pay the two year rent of the residents. I am currently satified with what is happening because the Assembly is ready to pay for rent and the residents are also satified. “Instead of a single room we have conpensated them for double room”
The excercise is part of the activities leading to the reconstruction of the Takoradi Market Circle. The assembly is expected to create temporary market to relocate market women who will be affected during the reconstruction.
Story: Kwame Offei
