Scores of squatters, street hawkers and pick pockets have besieged the Centre for National Culture in Accra (Arts Centre) interfering with daily business activities.
The Centre, which serves as the pinnacle for trading in traditional Ghanaian and African artifacts as well as tourists� attraction, needs immediate support to secure it from the negative activities of the squatters.
GNA investigations on Thursday showed that traders and tourists are constantly harassed, duped or confronted by commercial sex workers in broad day light.
Some squatters have also converted portions of the Centre into living quarters and are engulfing the Center in garbage.
Some traders also complained about the illicit activities of �Goro Boys,� who have pitched camp at the Centre, offering fake and cheap artifacts to tourists.
Nii Ankrah of the Public Relations Department at the Centre, told the GNA that management had lodged complaint at the Ministry Police Station for assistance but the police advised that management should establish a police post within the Centre.
�Due to our financial difficulties, it is almost impossible to undertake such venture. The Police post must have a minimum of ten officers and we must provide accommodation for them. We cannot raise the resources,� he said.
Nii Ankrah said a task force that was set up as a temporary solution had also been compromised with gifts and other juicy incentives by the �Goro Boys� and the squatters and instead of driving them away are protecting them.
Mr Dodzie Abuku, a trader at the Art Centre, alleged that management of the Centre were rather aiding the illegal activities of the Goro Boys and �most of those boys and squatters are their friends and relatives�.
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