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The Presiding Member of the Tema West Municipal Assembly, Hon. Ibrahim Dauda, has denied claims that he sanctioned or supported the demolition of shops and other structures at the Kasapreko Junction market.
His clarification follows an angry reaction from affected traders, who have raised concerns over the destruction of their businesses and demanded answers on who authorised the demolition.
Hon. Dauda, who is also the Assembly Member for the Baatsoonaa Electoral Area, described reports linking him to the exercise as false and misleading.
According to him, the land in question belongs to the government, and no individual has the authority to unilaterally order traders to vacate the area or demolish their structures.
He explained that the matter began about a month and two weeks ago when he received information from a fellow Assembly Member about plans to demolish structures at the junction.
Hon. Dauda said he subsequently contacted Nii Bortey Disco, who claimed ownership of the land, but declined a proposed meeting with him to avoid any possible misrepresentation of their conversation.
He said after assessing the situation, he rather took steps to regularise the activities of traders at the location by issuing them permits to operate.
However, the Assembly’s engineer advised that the permits should be temporary because the area had been earmarked for a major road project linking the Spintex-Kasapreko Road to the motorway.
The temporary permits were consequently issued, with a copy submitted to the Baatsoonaa Police Command, pending the commencement of the road project.
Dispute escalates
Hon. Dauda said the situation 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, after which they held a conference call and scheduled a meeting for Monday, August 10, to resolve the matter.
But before the scheduled meeting could take place, Hon. Dauda said he received a call in the early hours of Saturday, August 8, informing him that Nii Bortey Disco had allegedly brought Budodza to the area to demolish the structures.
The development triggered anger among the affected traders, who were left counting their losses.
Hon. Dauda condemned the demolition, describing it as unlawful and insisting that no individual had the authority to take the law into their own hands.
Warning
The Presiding Member warned that anyone found responsible for the demolition would face the full force of the law.
He further said those responsible could be held liable for losses suffered by the affected traders.
Hon. Dauda also urged his constituents and the affected traders not to be misled by claims that he supported the demolition.
He maintained that his intervention had been aimed at regulating the activities of traders while allowing them to operate temporarily until the planned road project commences.
He has consequently called for calm as efforts continue to resolve the dispute surrounding the Kasapreko Junction market.
