Ashaiman Assembly not evicting traders, just clearing roads– MCE
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Ashaiman, Freeman Tsekpo, has denied allegations that the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly is forcibly evicting traders from land they legally own, stating that the Assembly is only conducting a decongestion exercise, not a demolition or land seizure.
His comments follow a protest on Monday, August 18, by over 100 members of the Association, who accused the Assembly of attempting to reclaim land they say they legally own, despite the matter being under a court injunction. Protesters also alleged the land was being handed over to a private developer, and insisted they held valid documentation to prove ownership.
Speaking on Channel One Newsroom, Mr. Tsekpo clarified that the Assembly’s actions had been misunderstood.
“The assembly is undertaking a decongestion exercise. The assembly is not in any way doing a demolition on a site that is under litigation in court. I want to bring a distinction between a decongestion exercise and a demolition of a site which is in court,” he explained.
He explained that the operation is focused solely on clearing illegally occupied roads, pavements, medians, and public reservations, areas meant for pedestrian and vehicular movement, not for private trade or settlement.
“We are undertaking a decongestion exercise on the roads because we have traders who were selling in the road, in the median, on the pavement and traders who have put up structures on road reservation that have made our community clumsy,” the MCE said.
Mr. Tsekpo also noted that while the Peaceful Settlement Association may own land adjacent to the roads, many of its members have extended their operations into road reservations, placing containers and displaying wares dangerously close to traffic zones.
“Peaceful settlers have an adjoining land which shares a boundary with the road. They have put containers on the reservation, which is very close to the pavement. They display their wares on the pavement. They are in the curve. So when they display their ware, people have to literally walk on the streets, which causes an accident.”
“Thankfully, the road is completely motorable, and resistance will cause a threat to public safety. That is why we are undertaking this decongestion exercise. It has nothing to do with the demolition of their properties in their legally acquired space,” he added.
He concluded that the road is now motorable, and allowing the illegal occupation to continue would pose a threat to public safety. He reiterated that the Assembly is not targeting lawfully owned property, but is simply enforcing urban planning regulations.
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