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Angry traders at Kasapreko Junction in the Tema West Municipality have demanded answers following the demolition of their shops and other structures, with the Presiding Member of the Tema West Municipal Assembly, Ibrahim Dauda, denying any involvement in the exercise.
The affected traders have expressed outrage over the destruction of their businesses and are seeking clarity on who authorised the demolition and the legal basis for the action.
But Hon. Dauda, who is also the Assembly Member for the Baatsoonaa Electoral Area, has rejected claims that he supported the demolition, describing such reports as false and misleading.
He insists that the land belongs to the government and that no private individual has the authority to order traders to vacate the area or undertake a demolition.
According to Hon. Dauda, the issue started about a month and two weeks ago when he received information from a fellow Assembly Member about plans to demolish structures at the junction.
He said he contacted a person identified as Nii Bortey Disco, who claimed ownership of the land, but declined a proposed meeting with him to avoid any possible misrepresentation of their conversation.
Rather than backing a demolition, Hon. Dauda said he sought to regularise the activities of traders operating at the site by issuing them permits.
He explained, however, that the Assembly’s engineer advised that only temporary permits should be issued because the area had been earmarked for a major road project linking the Spintex-Kasapreko Road to the motorway.
The temporary permits were subsequently issued, with a copy given to the Baatsoonaa Police Command, pending the commencement of the road project.
Hon. Dauda said tensions escalated on Friday, August 7, when he received information that Nii Bortey Disco had returned to the area and was allegedly threatening traders to leave.
He said he contacted the Tema West Municipal Chief Executive, and the two held a conference call before scheduling a meeting for Monday, August 10, to resolve the matter.
However, in the early hours of Saturday, August 8, Hon. Dauda said he received information that Nii Bortey Disco had allegedly brought Budodza to the area to demolish the structures.
The demolition subsequently triggered anger among the affected traders, who have been left counting their losses.
Hon. Dauda condemned the action and described it as unlawful, insisting that the ownership of the land did not give any individual the authority to take the law into their own hands.
‘We will pursue the matter’
The Presiding Member warned that anyone found responsible for the demolition would face the full force of the law.
He further said the person or persons responsible could be held liable for losses suffered by the affected traders.
Hon. Dauda also urged his constituents not to be misled by claims that he supported the exercise.
He maintained that his intervention had been focused on regulating the activities of traders while ensuring that they could operate temporarily until the planned road project commences.
The development has heightened tensions at Kasapreko Junction, with affected traders demanding accountability and clarity over the ownership, development plans and authority governing the disputed site.
