General News of Thursday, 1 July 2021
Source: www.ghanaweb.com
2021-07-01
Scrap dealers have clashed with security forces overseeing planned relocation
• Gunshots and tear gas have been fired as scrap dealers clashed with security agents in Agbogbloshie
• Operatives had gone to the market to undertake a planned decongestion of onion traders
• The decongestion is part of the Regional Minister’s plan to ‘Make Accra Work Again’
Scrap dealers at the Agbogbloshie market in Accra have fired shots at security personnel who were undertaking a planned decongestion by the Greater Accra Coordinating Council.
A GhanaWeb reporter on the ground confirmed that the exercise on Thusrday, July 1, originally meant to decongest the entire market started smoothly until it got to the section of the scrap dealers.
They started throwing stones at the security personnel who reportedly fired tear gas in a bid to control the crowd.
The state-run Daily Graphic reports that the dealers fired gun shots at the security personnel and set used vehicle tyres ablaze in protest against their removal from the spot.
The subject of decongestion of the Agbogboloshie market had been a mission championed by the regional minister, Henry Quartey, who has vowed to implement a ‘Make Accra Work Again,’ campaign.
Government has since secured a new location at Adjen Kotoku for the onion traders to relocate.
Scene from the ongoing decongestion Exercise at Agbogbloshie #LetsMakeAccraWork pic.twitter.com/AVb78kRNLF
— #LetsMakeAccraWork (@letsmakegawork) July 1, 2021