The Member of Parliament (MP) for Jomoro, Dorcas Afo Toffey, has held a meeting with traders, commercial and truck drivers who ply their trade at the Western Regional Market and lorry station at Agbobloshie, in the Greater Accra region.
The traders and drivers, numbering about three thousand, are on the verge of losing their livelihood following the reservation of the Abogloshie Market for the construction of hostels for head porters.
Currently, construction of the project, which is an initiative of the vice president, Dr. Mahmmoud Bawumia, is ongoing and there are fears the traders face possible ejection.
With no hope in sight, the traders and drivers who say they have lived on that parcel of land for over 40-years decided to run to their Legislator, Dorcas Toffey, for succor.
At a meeting with the traders and drivers in Accra, Madam Afo Toffey explained that when she received a call about their possible ejection without notification, she called the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey, who denied knowledge of the ejection.
According to Legislator, the Minister told her the place earmarked for the construction of the ‘Kayayei’ hostel project does not fall under his jurisdiction, but rather the Mayor of Accra, Elizabeth Sackey.
Afo Toffey, however, admitted the problem confronting her constituents with regard to the possible ejection at the Agbobloshie market was also affecting her.
As a result, she would do what it takes to get to the bottom of the issue, with the hope that the victims would be relocated decently.
“What the government wants to do by building a hostel and toilet on the .land is not a bad idea, but not giving prior notice and no relocation plan for the drivers and traders is a challenge”, Madam Afo Toffey said in Twi at the meeting.
She was particularly concerned that over 2000 women who are trading on the land might lose their livelihood if they are not properly relocated.
“If the government is doing such a thing for the Kayayei, then traders and drivers also need a befitting place to do their business and not be pushed away”.
Advocating for a proper relocation for the victims, Legislator Toffey promised to meet the Mayor of Accra for an amicable resolution of the issue.
A retired Army Officer, Brigadier-General Nana Adu, who is a truck owner operating at the station, said he does not understand why the government decided to take the land from them. Though he admitted that government has the right to take the land to construct the project, but doing so with force is not the best way to go.
