Scrap dealers threaten mayhem if demolished fence wall is not reconstructed

Greater Accra Scrap Dealers Association have threatened to go haywire if persons behind the demolishing of the fence wall around their newly acquired 50 acres plot of land are not brought to book and made to reconstruct the wall.

Speaking at a press conference organized to register their grievance over what they termed crazy behaviour, the General Secretary of the Association, Salifu Salim accused one Haruna who he said is the Mponuahene of Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council of masterminding and presiding over the demolishing.

They gave him a grace period of one month to reconstruct the wall or “he will not have it easy” with them.

He indicated that the group have already made a commitment of GHC1,400,000 out of a total of GHC2,200,000 project and for that matter would not sit aloof and watch it go waste.

“We managed to raise this money by levying our members after government evicted us from our old place and so as leaders, we are duty bound to protect our collective interest," he stated.

According to Mr Salifu, efforts to get the Eastern Regional Police Command, Nsawem and Kyebi District Police to intervene have been fruitless. “We reported this issue to them in the month of may but they have refused to engage us in anyway whatsoever to prove that they are committed to finding a solution."

“As leaders of this association, we have gone through enough pain to restrain our members from retaliating. They have had enough already that if nothing is done, they can explode.” the statement added.

Read full statement below:

PRESS CONFERENCE

2nd AUGUST, 2022

GREATER ACCRA SCRAP DEALERS' ASSOCIATION (GASDA/GBESDA).

Good morning Ladies and Gentlemen, friends from the Media and colleague association members here and afar!

We invited you here this morning to bring to your notice the unlawful and "crazy" behaviour of Land Guards who claim their authority from the Okyehene and hence operatives under the banner of the Akyem Abuakwa Council.

Led by one Haruna (Mponua hene), who claims to be a chief Land Guard of Akim Abuakwa Traditional Council, this group have decided to make life a living hell for us scrap dealers.

Under Haruna's supervision, they completely demolished the Fence Wall on our fifty acres (50 acres) of land, our investigation revealed.

It is worth noting that The Akim Abuakwa Traditional Council was aware of the acquisition of the property and even participated in the construction of the fence wall.

The property and the Fence Wall cost us Two Million, Two Hundred Thousand Ghana Cedis (2,200,000.00) of which we made a deposit of One Million, Four Hundred Thousand Ghana Cedis (1,400,000.00) through which we levied ourselves after the demolition of the scrap yard at Agbogbloshie with Eight Hundred Thousand Ghana Cedis (800,000.00) still to be settled. We acquired the land legitimately from Estates Developer, KOANS BUILDING SOLUTIONS at TEACHER MANTE in the Eastern Region of Ghana.

Before we committed ourselves to this deal, we did our background checks at the Koforidua Lands and it was established that KOANS BUILDING SOLUTIONS is the said property owner.

We all know that there are laws in Ghana, no individual or group of people is above the laws of this land. If they think that we are Northerners and should be treated as such, we want them to know that we are not weak people who will sit aloof and watch our rights trampled upon without responding proportionately.

This unlawful behaviour by Haruna and the criminal group, Okyemen Task Force took place on a May 11th, 2022.

They completely pulled down the wall on a whooping 50 acre plot of land without provocation. This is despite the fact that we had all stakeholders accept that we should relocate there and do our business.

We made a report at the Nsawam Police Station, we were again advised to report same to the Eastern Regional Division, there we were asked again to report to Kyebi Divisional Police as well, of which we did in the same month of May

Up till now, we have not had any response from the Police. We don't want to take the law into our own hands but we can't also sit down for this unlawful and crazy behaviour to go on with impunity as though there are no laws in this country

That we are by this release warning all the land guards parading themselves as chiefs and task force operatives Okye Hene to stay away from our property in the interest of peace.

That the people of Akim Abuakwa are not better persons than we the people from the North who are engaged in this scrap business.

That the people of Ofori Panin Fie should be honest enough and live up to their call as leaders rather than engage in land guard business and frustrating people seeking to make honest living.

That the people of Ofori Panin Fie must as well ensure that the fence wall is built as soon as possible else we are hoping to turn their so called Ofori Panin Fie into out scrap yard.

We are also calling on the government led by NANA ADDO DANQUAH to intervene in this matter as soon as possible to ensure that the cost of our fence wall is paid for the sake of peace within the Akim Abuakwa Traditional Area else we will advice ourselves because we are all Ghanaians

As leaders of this association, we have gone through enough pain to restrain our member from retaliating. They have had enough already that if nothing is done, they can explode.

Therefore, we are sending a strong warning to the land guards especially, Haruna to either reconstruct our Fence Wall or he will not find it easy with us. We are again calling on National Security and the government to intervene before things get out of hand.

Our patience has been tested enough, the police have done their all to prove that we cannot find justice if we count on them.

We are still calling on the system that has failed us, if nothing is done, we will act accordingly to protect our interest.

Thank you all for coming.

Signed; Secretary

Salim Salifu