The Concerned Spare Parts Dealers Association of Abossey Okai have called on the government, the Greater Accra Regional Minister and the Regional Coordinating Council not to force them to relocate to the new site but rather make it voluntarily.
According to the association, Abossey Okai is not owned by the government but rather individuals and therefore any attempt to relocate them without any concrete laydown procedures will lead to resistance.
Responding to a press conference orgasnised by the Abossey Okai Spare Parts Dealers Association, a spokesperson of Concerned Spare Parts Dealers Association, Mr. Richard Obeng said “we are not against government giving land to the Abossey Spare Parts Dealers at Afienya to build an ultra-modern West African automotive hub but they should give us assurance that no trader is going to be forced to move to the new site.”
Mr. Obeng said it is true that the issue of movement dates back to 1998, during the tenure of the first chairman, Mr. Paa Kofi Ansong where an agreement was reached to move Abossey Okai to SCC Kasoa-road but the association kicked against the move.
“So, if our former leaders fought against the relocation to SCC then, how much more we moving to Afienya. The government can build the automotive hub but should not force everyone to move,” he stated.
He said what “what we want the government to do now is for them to sit-down with the traders to furnish the association with relocation letters, assure us that the relocation is not going to be mandatory and give those who want to stay the freedom to operate their businesses without any interruptions.”
Mr. Obeng said the traders who accepted to move are those without shops popularly known as ‘Goro Boys’ selling along the road.
Earlier, the Co-Chairman of the Spare Parts Dealers Association, Mr. Clement Boateng said the association have so far registered over 2,500 traders who are ready to relocate.
Mr. Boateng called on all to rally behind the government to build the ultra-modern automotive hub which he said will include shops, workshops, vehicle sales centres, financial institutions, one bedroom facility, hospital and police station.
Others he said are supermarkets, a railway line to transport our goods from Tema to the site, stadium, schools, restaurants and custom bonded warehouse.
