Tema industrial area risk losing attractiveness – AGI
Industrial concerns operating within the Tema industrial area have called on city authorities to as a matter of urgency provide goods roads, security and evict squatters to make the place attractive and resourceful.
“We have a number of pressing issues which we think should be addressed by the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA). We are hoping to meet the new Chief Executive, Mr Isaac Ashai Odamtten, as soon as possible to discuss how these problems can be resolved “ Mr Charles Mensah, Chairman, Association of Ghana industries (AGI) Tema Branch, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview.
He said the problems have persisted for some time now and that the earlier ‘we solve the problems; the better it is for Tema and Ghana as whole.
Mrs. Kate Quartey Papafio, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Reroy Cables Limited, said the poor state of roads in the area had raised the cost of maintaining her company’s vehicles, thus increasing the entity’s cost of operation.
She said the cost of transporting products had increased, as a result of the situation and could bring about some discomfort for supplier and buyer.
“Transportation is the blood of commence. It facilitates the movement of goods so if you have a problem with that sector your whole world turns upside down” Mrs. Papafio said.
According to her, “During the 1960s, doing business in the industrial area was convenient because the roads were good. These good roads attracted more investors and also, increased the business activities in the area positively.”
Mr Kweku Owusu-Ansah, Country Human Resource Manager, Air Liquide, said the increasing number of squatters and idlers, threatened the security of the area, especially with respect to pilfering, organized crimes and poor disposal of human waste.
He alleged that the squatters tapped electricity illegally from the companies, resulting in revenue loses and transmission problems.
“We have called on the Tema Regional Police Command, to intensify security patrols in the area, which is helping but the real solution to the problem is to evict them (squatters).”
On the road to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) office in the industrial area, just before Reroy Cables Limited, there is another set of these squatters and idlers directly opposite the company.
Mr Ansah said the companies were also making efforts, to drive away young men of no fixed designation and popularly known as Goro boys, who unofficially transact business on behalf of companies.
Source: GNA