Some traders at the Odawna Market who are yet to receive their share of the compensation promised them by the government are asking for their money.
The traders are victims of a fire outbreak that razed the market.
President Akufo-Addo, as part of efforts to support them directed the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), and National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI) to provide loans to affected traders.
Although some of the traders have received their money, others, who are yet to receive theirs have questioned why.According to them, they were assured payment after the general elections but nothing has been done.
A number of them, who thronged to the premises of Citi FM/Citi TV on Monday, December 14, to drum home their concerns, told Citi Business News they feel they are being deceived.
Issah Hamidu, who had an electrical shop in the market said, “They informed us on Saturday that we should come and see them for the money today. But they have failed on their promise, and it seems like we are being tricked. They told us to come again tomorrow, but we can’t trust them. We need the truth.”
Nana Akua Afriyie confirmed this by saying, “Our leaders are telling us the money is with MASLOC. MASCLOC also claims the money is with our leaders. So we do not know who is telling the truth. They keep tossing us. Last two weeks, MASLOC said it will compensate the first batch of people. Just about 120 people received their money. Some of us were there, but we weren’t called. So we are confused.”“They told us that they have divided us into batches, so they’ll give money to 200 people as part of the first batch. But even on that day, the people who received the money were not up to 200, and they took the rest of the money away. They told us that they have saved the money in the market bank account, so they would give it to us on Monday. Up till now, none of them has been there. We want to know where our money is,” Vida Akutey added.Background
It has been two weeks since the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre, and National Board for Small Scale Industries began distribution of monies to traders whose wares got burnt at the Odawna Pedestrian Shopping Mall, at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle about a month ago.
The first distribution by MASLOC was done on December 3, with each person receiving an amount of GHS2,000. According to the institutions the payment was being done in batches, following particular rules to ensure transparency and equity.
The NBSSI, who started the disbursement before MASLOC, has disbursed money to about 600 traders, according to the Executive Director of the NBSSI, Kosi Yankey-Ayeh.
But a number of these traders who are yet to receive their money claim both institutions are not being fair to them as they keep giving them contradicting information as to when they will receive their share of the compensation.
