Traditional leaders of the Awutu Traditional Council have boycotted a planned sod-cutting ceremony for the construction of a 24-hour economy market in the Awutu Senya East Municipality and threatened to withhold land for future government projects.
The traditional leaders accused Municipal Chief Executive Seth Sabah Serwonoo-Banini and Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya East, Phyllis Naa Koryoo Okunor, of disregarding their authority over stool lands.
They say they were not consulted before a portion of land around the Kasoa New Market area was earmarked for the proposed 24-hour economy market.
The council consequently boycotted the planned ceremony to register its displeasure, insisting that the land had not been released by the traditional authorities for the project.
Speaking at a press conference, the Boundary Chief of the Awutu Traditional Council, Nai Kwabena Atopi, also accused the MCE and a private developer of undertaking the construction of permanent stores around the Kasoa Interchange after traders were evicted from the area.
He said the traditional authorities were initially told that the development formed part of the government’s resetting agenda, but claimed they were not subsequently consulted on the project.
“The stores around the Kasoa interchange where several traders were evicted are being constructed by the MCE and a private developer. He lied to us that it was part of the government’s resetting agenda. As traditional leaders we were never aware of that project. The MP also came to the palace and we queried her, they apologised and promised to do the needful. It is not right to award a land belonging to the stool to a private individual to build stores. You all witnessed the series of demonstrations. We have petitioned the court and wouldn’t want to discuss that matter into details.”
Nai Kwabena Atopi said the traditional authorities were equally unhappy about plans to use land around the New Market area for the 24-hour economy project without their knowledge.
“But today too we were informed that they have gone to allocate a portion of the land around New Market for the construction of a 24Hour Economy Market which we had no idea. So we decided to boycott the program to send a signal to the Local Government Minister that the government’s representative is treating us with contempt and that in the future we won’t allocate any land to government.”
He further accused the MCE of labelling members of the traditional council as landguards, saying the allegation had heightened tensions between the two sides.
“The MCE has been labeling us as landguards and we are not happy. We are very angry but are exercising restraint,” he said.
The traditional leaders called on President John Dramani Mahama to intervene and address what they described as growing tensions between the traditional council and the local government authorities.
They, however, reaffirmed their commitment to supporting government development projects, while insisting that proper consultation and respect for the authority of the traditional council must be observed in matters involving stool lands.
Source: Channel One News
