The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Ashaiman, Freeman Tsekpo, has dismissed claims that the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly is unlawfully evicting members of the Peaceful Settlement Association, stressing that the Assembly is only carrying out a decongestion exercise.
His response follows protests by more than 100 traders who accused the Assembly of attempting to seize land they insist they legally own despite a court injunction, alleging the property was being reallocated to a private developer.
Speaking on Channel One Newsroom on Monday, August 18, Mr. Tsekpo explained that the Assembly’s operations had been misconstrued.
“The assembly is undertaking a decongestion exercise. The assembly is not in any way doing a demolition on a site that is under litigation in court. I want to bring a distinction between a decongestion exercise and a demolition of a site which is in court,” he clarified.
He added that the exercise strictly targets traders who have encroached on roads, pavements, and medians, creating safety risks.
According to him, members of the Peaceful Settlement Association had placed containers and displayed wares on road reservations, forcing pedestrians onto streets.
“Thankfully, the road is completely motorable, and resistance will cause a threat to public safety. That is why we are undertaking this decongestion exercise. It has nothing to do with the demolition of their properties in their legally acquired space,” the MCE said.
