Rawlings Park traders appeal for government support after AMA demolition

Hundreds of aggrieved traders at the Rawlings Park in Accra who had their shops demolished by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) are appealing to government for help.

The traders say they have lost their source of livelihood and have nowhere to go to ply their trade.

The Assembly started the demolition exercise about a week ago after traders were given notice for about two weeks.

“The warning they gave was a notice they wrote on our containers that we should remove now,” Jonathan Amevor, a goldsmith, said to Citi News.

He says he was taken by surprise alongside other traders because they were looking forward to further engagement.

However, Mr. Amevor is one of the traders who retrieved his items from his shop before the demolition took place.

He is now faced with a challenge of finding a new location to keep his belongings and working tools.

“Since I have nowhere to pack it, you can see behind me some of my belongings. Some of the machines that I used, I have to take it to another shop.”

Seth Morton, who trades in clothes, also lamented his challenges to Citi News.

Following the notice from the Assembly, he said “we thought they would come and call us for a meeting so that we talk about it, but all of a sudden they came [for the demolition].”

Mr. Morton further urged the state to help them relocate to a favourable location.

“We know relocation is hard. There is no land around… we are just pleading with them to manage somewhere for us.”

Source: citifmonline.com