The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Ocloo, has announced plans to redevelop the burnt section of the VVIP station at Kwame Nkrumah Circle into a modern market facility, urging traders not to rebuild their shops.
The announcement follows a fire outbreak that destroyed more than 50 shops at the site, with authorities citing congestion as a major factor that hampered firefighting efforts.
Speaking during a site visit on Wednesday, January 21, Mrs Ocloo emphasised the need for a well-planned trading space and called on traders to cooperate with the redevelopment process.
“We want to engage the traders so that developers can properly develop the place, allowing you to trade in a serene environment.
We are calling on traders around the Circle to help us by allowing the Assembly to develop the place. Please, don’t interfere. This is for your own good. After the development, there will be enough stores to accommodate everyone trading here,” she said.
Mrs Ocloo also disclosed that over 50 gas cylinders were retrieved from the debris following the fire outbreak, some of which were still filled with gas.
“We noticed that some of them even had gas. Yesterday alone, more than 50 gas cylinders were retrieved from the site,” she added.
The blaze, which reportedly started around 10 a.m. on Tuesday, January 20, gutted more than 50 mobile phone shops, according to authorities and eyewitnesses. The Ghana National Fire Service responded promptly and managed to bring the fire under control.
