Ayawaso North Council of Zongo Chiefs has petitioned President Akufo-Addo in support of the Kasao Kuda (Mamobi Market) Project.
The petition signed by the Chairman of the Council, Chief Alhaji Imoro Baba Issa, requests that the President and state institutions “reject in totality any request from unauthorized occupants on a government land at Mamobi”.
The petition follows a planned demonstration, dubbed ‘WE WILL NOT AGREE” by some encroachers on 5.7 acres of Government land at Mamobi against the Ayawaso North Municipal Assembly.
The Ayawaso North Municipal Assembly said they need the land for its initial plan, an ultra-modern market, but the encroachers say they have been on this land for a very long, therefore, must be compensated. Others also say they need more time to move.
After several approaches to oppose the Assembly’s directive, the Encroachers, led by the Assemblyman of the Area, Senya Electoral Area, Wisdom Boateng (Okumnipa), believe a demonstration followed by a petition to the President, is their last hope.
The demonstration was rescheduled from last week, 17th August, to today, 25th August, following an agreement with the Ghana Police Service.
This demonstration according to the Ayawaso North Council of Zongo Chiefs, “have no sympathy”.
“They have stayed on the land for far too long and are not contributing to the socio-economic development of the community. They are there protecting and promoting their interest.” – the petition reads.
According to checks at the Lands Commission, the Land was secured from the Nii Saaka Family by the Government under CI 1963, through the then Local Government Minister, Aron Ofori Atta, to build a hospital, school, and market for the People of Mamobi. Persons on the land at that time were less than 60 and were all compensated by the government.
The School and Hospital were built, but the market project was prevented by a military coup in 1966.
According to the Chiefs, the current structures on the Land belong to certain individuals who have rented the structures out after the first warning by the Assembly and left to Benin, Niger, and other parts of the country.
“Presently, some occupants have structures and rented them out to people and taking money knowing very well that land is government property and not for them. Those unscrupulous people are those NOT in support of the project and want to continue their illegal activities in the Market,” the petition said.
Ghana | Atinkaonline.com | Ebenezer Madugu
