WOOD WORKERS MOVING TO SOKOBAN (SEPT 25, PAGE 29)

Wood workers at Anloga who resisted resettling at the Sokoban Wood Village to pave way for the construction of the Oforikrom-Asokwa bypass in Kumasi are now trickling in at the wood village to continue their businesses.
Since the exercise started barely a week ago, about 270 wood workers have relocated to the Sokoban Wood village.
According to the Secretary of the Anloga South branch of the Lumber Sellers Association, Mr Charles Kra Boadu, out of the 320 members of his association, 270 had been allocated sheds at the Sokoban Wood village and they had moved into them to start their businesses.
He said 50 of their members reported late and could therefore not secure sheds at the wood village, but gave the assurance that they were collaborating with the management of the Wood Village to secure a place close to their present location for them to operate their businesses.
He pointed out that a 14-acre land had already been secured for that purpose and constructional work would start soon.
The Sokoban Wood Village was designed to accommodate 958 business operatives and apart from the wood sellers, other business operatives such as carpenters, plywood sellers, saw millers and hardware dealers have also been allocated sheds.
The village has special spaces for transport operators, food vendors and truck pushers.
Facilities such as canteens, police posts, banks, spacious car parks for both private and commercial vehicles and places of convenience have also been developed to enhance business transaction.
Gold Street Real Estate Consult, a private business enterprise, has been contracted to manage the Sokoban Wood Village.
Apart from undertaking regular maintenance and environmental cleanliness to enhance a healthy atmosphere, the management would also provide security and address the need of the business community there.
Mrs Alice Owiaba Addai-Yeboah, who is managing the resettlement exercise, told the Daily Graphic that the initial tension that surrounded the exercise "has now given way to an atmosphere of calm and business is now trickling in".
She said the exercise was smooth because the wood workers were well organised and their leadership proved very mature.
"We worked through their leadership and so far, we have distributed the requisite sheds, which would enhance their business transactions."
Mrs Addai Yeboah, however, expressed concern about the attitude of some of the wood workers who refused to relocate to Sokoban and rather moved to Nkontompo, near Aboabo in Kumasi to ply their trade there.
She said doing business at Nkontompo was close to the Kumasi Airport and therefore could create insecurity there.
She said the Regional Security Council had been alerted about the development and had given the assurance that it would demolish structures that had been erected there.
Mrs Addai-Yeboah said there were enough spaces for all the wood workers and therefore could not fathom the rationale behind those who decided to relocate close to the Kumasi Airport.
On how business would flow at the Sokoban Wood Village, she said the signs had started showing that business would thrive.
"Billboards, banners as well as radio and television announcements, among others, are already underway and very soon business will be booming at the Sokoban Wood Village," she assured.
"Anloga is the largest market for wood products in the country so naturally customers of the products would be attracted to the Sokoban Wood Village to do business," she added.