Traders at Santana Market in the Ayawaso West Wuogon Municipality of the Greater Accra Region have protested against an alleged plan by the Ghana Railway Authority to allocate part of the market land to a private developer.
The traders fear the move could undermine plans to reconstruct and develop the market under the government’s flagship 24-Hour Economy Market Programme.
They are calling on the government and the Ayawaso West Wuogon Municipal Assembly to intervene and ensure that the land earmarked for the project remains available for the proposed redevelopment.
Convenor of the aggrieved traders, Robert Brew Roggenston, said they support the government’s initiative but are concerned that allocating part of the land to a private developer could compromise the project’s implementation.
Addressing the media, Mr Roggenston said Santana Market had operated for approximately 45 years and served as an important trading centre for residents and businesses in the municipality.
Robert Brew Roggenston, convenor, Santana Market traders, Ayawaso West Wuogon Municipality- Accra
He explained that the traders welcomed the redevelopment plan after learning that the market had been selected for the government’s 24-hour market initiative.
According to him, the municipal assembly subsequently visited the site and demarcated the area intended for the project after consultations with the traders, who raised no objections to the proposed redevelopment.
However, he said the situation changed when the Ghana Railway Authority reportedly claimed ownership of part of the land and sought to take control of a section of the market.
Mr Roggenston alleged that the traders were subsequently informed that the disputed portion would be allocated to a private developer for a separate project.
He said the traders oppose the move because they believed the land is essential to the successful implementation of the 24-hour market initiative.
The convenor further claimed that, during a recent engagement, officials of the Ghana Railway Authority attributed the proposed action to outstanding payments allegedly owed to the authority by the government.
He said the explanation had heightened the traders’ concerns, particularly over the potential impact on the planned redevelopment.
“We cannot cede that portion to them,” he said, insisting that the land should remain available for the market project.
Mr Roggenston maintained that the traders are opposed to the Ghana Railway Authority and the private development because they want the original plans for Santana Market to be respected.
He warn that reducing the size of the land available could affect the market’s design and make it difficult to implement the project as originally planned.
The allegations have not been independently verified, and the Ghana Railway Authority’s response to the claims is not available at the time of publication.
Mr Roggenston also alleged that previous engagements with the leadership of the Ghana Railway Authority had been tense, claiming that he was threatened during a visit to the authority’s office.
He specifically accused the authority’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Frederick Appoh, of threatening him with National Security involvement during their interaction.
The convenor further expressed concern for his safety, claiming that some individuals who recently visited the market were specifically looking for him.
According to him, the individuals described him as the man leading the women traders in their opposition to the proposed allocation of the land.
He said the incident had heightened his fears about his personal safety.
Mr Roggenston appealed to the government to investigate the matter and bring the traders’ concerns to the attention of the relevant authorities.
The traders are calling on the Ayawaso West Wuogon Municipal Assembly to engage the Ghana Railway Authority and other relevant government institutions to resolve the dispute.
However, he claimed that individuals seeking to demarcate the disputed portion of land had visited the market recently.
He added that notices had been erected on the site indicating its association with the Ghana Railway Authority, which he said reinforced the traders’ concerns about the proposed allocation.
The convenor urged the assembly to facilitate discussions between the parties and ensure that any decision concerning the land do not undermine the planned redevelopment.
He also appealed to the government to intervene and halt any action involving the disputed portion until the matter had been resolved.
According to him, disagreements between public institutions should not frustrate government development initiatives intended to benefit local communities.
Despite the dispute, Mr Roggenston reiterated the traders’ support for the government’s 24-Hour Economy Market Programme, describing the proposed redevelopment as an opportunity to improve market infrastructure and expand commercial activity.
“We cannot oppose the 24-hour market. Actually, we are in support,” he said, adding that traders at Santana Market were looking forward to the project’s implementation.
He warned that any reduction in the land allocated for the redevelopment could affect the market’s size and functionality, potentially jeopardising the project’s objectives.
The traders are therefore urging the municipal assembly, the Ghana Railway Authority and the central government to engage all stakeholders and reach an amicable resolution that protects the proposed redevelopment.
Aggrieved traders protesting
They maintain that their primary concern is to ensure that Santana Market benefits from the government’s flagship initiative without the disputed land allocation compromising the project.
By 1960news.com
