AMA Boss Rushed In Announcing Building Of New Ultramodern Kantamanto Market - Kwaku Baako

�It was a bit odd that in the midst of weeping and wailing because of loss of property to fire, the AMA boss told traders of plans to build a new market, starting in July...the timing of his statement just didn�t make sense to me�� - Kwaku Baako Managing Editor of the New Crusading Guide newspaper made the above statement, when speaking to Kwami Sefa-Kayi concerning the fire debacle that occurred at the Kantamanto market last Sunday. After the fire has been put out by personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service, the Accra Mayor, Alfred Oko Vanderpuiye visited the scene and informed traders that there were plans to reconstruct the market for traders to feel comfortable and at ease. He then gave a directive, asking the traders to move to other designated markets including the Tuesday market in Accra. According to Kweku Baako, looking at the gravity of loss of the traders and how they would have been grieving at the time, it was a wrong timing for the mayor to have made the statement of an intended new market plan. He said the AMA boss should have waited and allowed the committee which has been set to look into the issue (fire) to bring out their report which will definitely include such plans. �The sequence was wrong because somebody was in a hurry to put to bear what was on his table and that gave a suspicious twist especially when emotions were high. It was inappropriate and a wrong timing. If they had those plans in their mind, did they discuss it with the executives of the market as well as their unions? In managing the situation, there was the need for government to be a bit circumspect in how to go about it�� He said the kind of language used in such situations is very important because if not well managed, it will turn into something else; adding, �it was poor leadership and management of a crisis situation� �Whatever the AMA boss had in mind or they as a corporate entity had in mind could have waited...He could have waited for the report from the committee which will also include any upcoming projects. By then the committee would have met with the leadership of the market and other stakeholders and would have discussed whatever project and how it is going to be. Tempers would have cooled down by then and everybody will get a better understanding,� he added.