Anloga Junction Traders And Drivers Protest Alleged Attempted Eviction By Private Developer.

Tomato cargo drivers, taxi drivers and plywood dealers operating at Anloga Junction in the Oforikrom Municipality of the Ashanti Region have staged a demonstration to protest an alleged attempt by a private developer to evict them from a piece of land they claim to have occupied for over 45 years.

The aggrieved traders and drivers, who use the busy Anloga Junction enclave as their main business hub, took to the streets early Tuesday morning after receiving an eviction notice reportedly issued by the private developer who intends to commence a development project on the land near the Oforikrom traffic intersection.

According to the protesters, the land in question has served as their source of livelihood for decades, with generations of traders and transport operators relying on it for their daily commercial activities.

They said the sudden move to eject them without proper engagement and clear proof of ownership is unjust and unlawful.

They disclosed that several engagements involving the leadership of the group, the Oforikrom Municipal Assembly and the said private developer have been held in an attempt to resolve the impasse, but all efforts have so far proven futile as no consensus has been reached.

The group further questioned the authenticity of documents presented by the private developer as proof of ownership of the land, arguing that the land is a government reserve earmarked for a future interchange project and not for private use.

They are therefore demanding full disclosure on the true ownership status of the land and insist that due process must be followed before any eviction is carried out.

Speaking to the media during the protest, the Chairman of the group, Mr. Obed Kwame Kataka, emphasized that they are not opposed to development.

He stated that if the government officially requires them to vacate the area for the construction of the proposed Anloga Junction Interchange or any other legitimate public project, they are more than willing to comply and relocate.

However, he stressed that they will fiercely resist any attempt by a private individual to take over the land under the guise of development, especially when the ownership of the land remains in contention.

“We have been here for more than 45 years. This place is our workplace. We are not against government development.

If government says it wants to build an interchange here, we will leave. But we will not allow a private developer to come and take our land from us,” Mr. Kataka stated.

Some members of the group who also spoke during the demonstration echoed similar sentiments, lamenting that evicting them would render hundreds of families jobless and worsen the economic hardship in the area.

The protesters are therefore calling on the Ashanti Regional Minister, the Oforikrom Municipal Chief Executive and the Lands Commission to urgently intervene in the matter, investigate the claims of the private developer and ensure that justice prevails to maintain peace and stability at Anloga Junction.

Meanwhile, all efforts to reach the private developer for his side of the story proved unsuccessful as at the time of filing this report.

Story by Bismark Mensah@A/R.