Over 3,000 traders, commercial drivers, and truck drivers who work at the Western Regional Market and lorry station in Agbogbloshie market in Accra have smocked peace pipe after portions of their lands were forcibly taken over by the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, for the construction of hostels and toilets for head porters (Kayayei) in Accra.
The peace pipe was smocked thanks to the intervention of the Member of Parliament for Jomoro Constituency in the Western Region, Dorcas Afo Toffey, who was assisted by the former Mayor of Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), who is also the Member of Parliament for Ablekuma South Constituency, Alfred Okoe Vanderpiuje.
The above parties met with the current Mayor of AMA, Elizabeth Sackey, today to discuss the issues, and it was at that meeting that they reached an amicable resolution.
The foundation for the Kayayei hostel facilities is currently being dug in more than half of the land for the project’s start.
The traders and drivers have lived on that plot of land for over 40 years.
Five vehicles stationed on the land at the time of the operation were towed to the Accra Metropolitan Assembly’s office (AMA).
The drivers claim they had to pay GH5,000 each before being released.
During the meeting, Madam Elizabeth Sackey stated that the project plan had been in place since 2019, and that the market and station leadership had been informed.
She explained that there was a meeting with some executives before they took over on Monday, February 20, 2023, but that these executives were not the primary decision-makers for the station and the market.
Madam Sackey stated that they are not taking the entire land, but only a portion of it, which will benefit the drivers and traders.
The Mayor noted that the name is Kayayei Hostel, but it is also something that will benefit the entire traders and drivers in the area.
Dr Stephen Nketiah, the Project Engineer, explained that he brought the police and military to the land because of the situation on the grounds, not because they were there to forcibly take the land from them.
He stated that they thought he was coming to meet those he had meetings with, who turned out to be not legitimate people.
The Chairman of the Drivers Union, Somia Ahoma admitted that they were aware of the said 2019 notice to take over the place for such a project but because the authorities refused to move in around that time till now, they were taken by surprise. He said they needed to be settled before such a project or eviction but nothing of that sort was done.
Mr. Ahoma stated that with the Mayor and Engineer’s explanation, the project can now proceed peacefully, but they needed a place to settle and ply their trade.
Dorcas Afo Toffey, MP for Jomoro, said in an interview that what occurred was a miscommunication from the project’s executors.
She explained that the presence of the police and the army caused confusion because the traders believed they were being evicted forcibly.
“Normally, there are signposts on government projects indicating which contractor, type of project, among other things, but there was nothing like that in this instance,” Madam Afo Toffey observed.
“We told them that in such cases, the MPs for the affected areas should be notified so that if there is any confusion, the MP will be in a better position to explain to the people. In this case, the Odododiodio MP, Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuije, had no idea “She elaborated.
The MP said that because they did not know, they all assumed it was some people who had come to evict them, but it was explained that it is a government project, and as such, the traders and drivers would not be evicted because the remaining land would be given to them. Madam Afo Toffey assured that the traders and the driver would remain for the time being, and that any relocation would be gradual because a hasty relocation would disrupt their businesses.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
