2007年VOA标准英语-Ghana Prepares for 50th Anniversary Celebration

By Efam Dovi
Accra
25 January 2007

In Ghana, the authorities of the capital city, Accra have started clearing the business district of unauthorized structures and street vendors¹, as the West African nation prepares to celebrate its 50th independence anniversary in March.  Efam Dovi visited the central business district and files this VOA report.

 
Old habits die hard as street vendors continue to work in Accra
Makola Market in Accra is one of the biggest open markets in West Africa. It is listed as a tourist attraction, but the usually crowded streets and sidewalks, combined with 30 degrees Celsius² plus weather most time of the year, makes it not very attractive to some.
 
Here, people compete with vehicles for space, as the pedestrian lanes have been taken over by street vendors, who usually display their wares³ on sidewalks. 

Today however, people are using the sidewalks again and the traffic is moving. Last Friday night, stalls and kiosks and other unauthorized structures were demolished⁴ and removed ahead of a massive clean-up exercise throughout the city.
 
Clogged drains were cleared and heaps of garbage that have been mounting in many parts of the city, are also being removed.
 
 
Police crowd control horses standby on streets in Accra
Previous programs to clear the city were not successful. But the mayor of Accra, Stanley Nii Adjiri-Blankson says this time round he is determine to have a clean, modern city.

"We are resolute⁵ in our determination to move the petty traders and hawkers from the streets and pavements, because that is one of the ways the city of Accra can be mirrored as a modern metropolis⁶ where business can be conducted with ease and in a hassle free manner," he said.

Crowd control policemen on horses and security officials are guarding the market streets, to ensure that the street hawkers do not return.
 
A new pedestrian market has also been built.
 
With the street vendors gone, shop owners like Jane are happy and hopeful business will be good again.

She says it is good the street traders have been sent away. She says when they were here, customers preferred to buy from them, because people think goods displayed on the floor, are cheaper than those in the shops. She says the goods in the shops are of better quality, and says the shop owners pay taxes and duties to the authorities and have bigger expenditure⁷. She says storeowners will benefit greatly from the exercise.

 
Police crowd control horses are on standby on Kinbu street, in Accra
But not everyone is happy with the results. Kwabena Amoa used to sell shirts on the sidewalks.

He says he has been allocated⁸ a stall at the new market, but says he couldn't start trading because the authorities have asked them to wait for official inauguration⁹ in three weeks. He says they should have been allowed to continue selling on the pavements until the inauguration. He says they work with loans, and are losing money for not being able to work. He says some of them have children in school to cater¹⁰ for.
 
The mayor's office, however, denies Amoa's claims.
 
Nii Adjiri-Blankson says the new market is opened for trading, but says unlike other markets, traders need official identity card to trade.

"You need to wear your tag, your ID tag, if you want to sell, anybody who sells in the market without an ID tag will be arrested," he explained.

Accra is one of the fastest growing cities in sub-Saharan Africa, with an estimated population of close to 4 million.
 
Similar exercises over the years to clear the city were not successful because the authorities lack the resources to enforce the laws.
 
For now however, the authorities are doing everything they can, to show a beautiful Ghana to their numerous guests from around the world. Thousands are expected for Ghana's 50th anniversary celebration as the first African country to have gain political independence.

1 vendors   

n.摊贩( vendor的名词复数 )；小贩；（房屋等的）卖主；卖方

参考例句：

• The vendors were gazundered at the last minute. 卖主在最后一刻被要求降低房价。
• At the same time, interface standards also benefIt'software vendors. 同时，界面标准也有利于软件开发商。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

2 Celsius   

adj.摄氏温度计的，摄氏的

参考例句：

• The temperature tonight will fall to seven degrees Celsius.今晚气温将下降到七摄氏度。
• The maximum temperature in July may be 36 degrees Celsius.七月份最高温度可能达到36摄氏度。

3 wares   

n. 货物, 商品

参考例句：

• They sold their wares at half-price. 他们的货品是半价出售的。
• The peddler was crying up his wares. 小贩极力夸耀自己的货物。

4 demolished   

v.摧毁( demolish的过去式和过去分词 )；推翻；拆毁（尤指大建筑物）；吃光

参考例句：

• The factory is due to be demolished next year. 这个工厂定于明年拆除。
• They have been fighting a rearguard action for two years to stop their house being demolished. 两年来，为了不让拆除他们的房子，他们一直在进行最后的努力。

5 resolute   

adj.坚决的，果敢的

参考例句：

• He was resolute in carrying out his plan.他坚决地实行他的计划。
• The Egyptians offered resolute resistance to the aggressors.埃及人对侵略者作出坚决的反抗。

6 metropolis   

n.首府；大城市

参考例句：

• Shanghai is a metropolis in China.上海是中国的大都市。
• He was dazzled by the gaiety and splendour of the metropolis.大都市的花花世界使他感到眼花缭乱。

7 expenditure   

n.(时间、劳力、金钱等)支出；使用，消耗

参考例句：

• The entry of all expenditure is necessary.有必要把一切开支入账。
• The monthly expenditure of our family is four hundred dollars altogether.我们一家的开销每月共计四百元。

8 allocated   

adj. 分配的 动词allocate的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• The Ford Foundation allocated millions of dollars for cancer research. 福特基金会拨款数百万美元用于癌症研究。
• More funds will now be allocated to charitable organizations. 现在会拨更多的资金给慈善组织。

9 inauguration   

n.开幕、就职典礼

参考例句：

• The inauguration of a President of the United States takes place on January 20.美国总统的就职典礼于一月二十日举行。
• Three celebrated tenors sang at the president's inauguration.3位著名的男高音歌手在总统就职仪式上演唱。

10 cater   

vi.(for/to)满足，迎合；(for)提供饮食及服务

参考例句：

• I expect he will be able to cater for your particular needs.我预计他能满足你的特殊需要。
• Most schools cater for children of different abilities.大多数学校能够满足具有不同天资的儿童的需要。