The impending ejection of over thousand transport operators and traders by the Railways Corporation and some thirteen (13) private land developers at Accra CMB Railways lorry station has triggered anger and tension in the area.
According to the frustrated transport operators and traders, the Corporation and the thirteen private land developers including Ofosu Ntim, Pioneer Merchant Company, First Eye Company, Wood Merchant Company and the Lord Cares Plaza among others have marked their structures for demolition in the coming days.
The development, they lamented if not stopped by the government immediately, will have the tendency to destroy the sources of livelihood for the thousand drivers who plight 90 routes across nine (9) regions of the country.
Addressing a press conference in Accra over the weekend, the Chairman of the Accra CMB Station Welfare of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), Mr. Michael Atta Frimpong stated that they were shocked to hear that the land on which they are operating has been sold by management of Railways Corporation to thirteen land developers without their knowledge.
He said, “Our main worry also is; GPRTU of TUC and Ghana Railway Corporation are sister unions dealing in transportation. If there is a deal, we should have been the individuals to benefit because we are the occupants of the place and property.”
According to him the Railways Corporation should have engaged them on its intended sale of the property considering the mutual agreement they have with the corporation and the allodia land owners, the Nii Ankrah family of Gbese in the Ga State.
He lamented that their ejection from the land would greatly affect the transport operations of the over one thousand drivers and two million traders.
The frustrating development which has compelled the transport operators of the Accra CMB Railways lorry station to appeal to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the Minister of Railways Development, Mr. Joe Ghartey to intervene in order to allow the Railways Corporation and the 13 private developers to rescind their decisions to eject them from the land.
He said: “We would like the President of the Republic of Ghana to intervene on our behalf as quickly as possible, to sustain an absolute peace to enable us continue our businesses without any further hindrance.”
“At the end of it all we appeal to government to provide concrete solution to our problem once and for all or we advise ourselves by resorting to any action that is backed by law of the land.”
Mr. Frimpong also expressed disappointment in the management of the Railways Corporation which had rejected an initial proposal for the development of the land into an ultra-modern lorry station facility, but went ahead to sell the same property to the 13 private land developers.
“We have been trying to get in touch with the management of give a listening ear to the issue since 2008 but they refused to grand us audience,” he stated.
He said government must, as a matter of urgency, step in and take over the land, develop it into a more suitable lorry station facility which will help generate revenue for economic development.
According to him, government’s vision of achieving Ghana Beyond Aid could be achieved if right taxes and revenue is generated, hence facilities such as lorry stations which contribute enough towards nation’s socio-economic and infrastructural development must not be left undeveloped.
He said Akufo-Addo-led government is a listening government and would not close its eyes over the development and allow over two million people suffer, hence expects the President’s swift intervention to save situations.
Meanwhile, the private land developers had confirmed to cross-section of journalists that they had bought the land from the Railways Corporation.
In a recent visit to the area, GO observed that the developers had started developing part of the land and had also ejected transport operation and traders from the land.