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Newspaper publishers asked to give city newsstands that
befit
Accra, Oct. 11, Ghanadot/GNA - The Accra Metropolitan
Assembly (AMA) on Thursday gave Editors of the various
newspapers a two-week ultimatum to construct new and
well-designed newsstands that would befit the capital or all
such old structures would be demolished.
They are also to provide street vendors with jackets or
aprons to make them look presentable while vendors are not
to sublet their spaces to hawkers, the Chief Executive of
the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, Stanley Nii Adjiri Blankson
said when the editors called on him in Accra on Thursday.
The editors and executives of the Ghana Journalists
Association, Private Newspaper Publishers Association of
Ghana (PRINPAG) and the Vendors Association appealed to the
AMA to give them time to address the issue of newsstands
which are due to be demolished in the decongestion exercise
to hit the capital on October 15.
The Accra Mayor asked them to meet the deadline so that the
purpose of the exercise was not defeated.
The decongestion exercise is expected to rid the capital of
all unauthorized structures and give it a facelift in
preparation for CAN 2008. The exercise would also affect
East Legon, Labone, Tetteh Quarshie Interchange and Spintex
Road.
Nii Adjiri Blankson said this was to accord these first
class residential areas the befitting status they deserved
and enable them to pay first class property rate.
He said Mpeasem, Oponglo, Abotsiman and La Bawaleshi, all
villages around the East Legon areas, would be exempted from
the exercise.
About 700 personnel from the Police, AMA and the National
Youth Employment Programme would be deployed for the
exercise until the end of CAN 2008, when skeleton personnel
would be left.
Nii Adjiri said the beaches would also not be left out and
he called on the media to support the exercise by educating
the public.
Mr Ransford Tetteh, GJA President and Spokesperson of the
group, said they had called on the mayor to appeal for time
to address the problem.
“We are not here to challenge the resolution passed by the
Assembly that newsstands be included in the decongestion
exercise, but to appeal for time to address the issue.”
He contended that the meeting had become necessary because
if the issue was not carefully addressed it could stifle the
press and lead to loss of revenue to media outlets.
Mrs Gina Blay, President of PRINPAG, expressed appreciation
to AMA for the grace period and assured the Mayor of
improved and well designed newsstands that befitted the
capital.
GNA
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