Tanokrom-Kokompe artisans demonstrate against STMA

Members of the Tanokrom-Kokompe Garages Association in the Western Region Thursday demonstrated against authorities of the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) for demolishing their structures.

The demonstrators wore red attire and chanted war songs with placards bearing various inscriptions such as "Captain Cudjoe must go," "No artisans, no shopping mall," "We shall not go,” among others.

The artisans numbering over 200 walked through the principal streets of the twin-city and converged at the Regional Coordinating Council at Sekondi.

They presented a petition to the Western Regional Minister, Mr Ebenezer KwadwoTeye Addo and the Western Regional House of Chiefs.

The leader of the demonstrators, Mr Kweku Aboagye Boampong, told the media in Sekondi that they had petitioned President John Dramani Mahama through the Regional Minister to dismiss the mayor of Sekondi-Takoradi, Captain (RTD) Anthony Cudjoe.

He added that they had asked city authorities to tar the road leading to the new site allocated to them at Mampong-Kansaweredo for easy accessibility and also asked that they increased the electricity supply of the area from one phase to three.

He said they also asked for the engineering of the topography of the new site to avert flooding as well as provision of other amenities to ensure smooth operation of their work.

The Western Regional Minister, who received the petition, assured them that his outfit would deliver the message to the president, and entreated them to exercise patience as their requests would be duly addressed.

Two weeks ago, a joint police and military task-force stormed the Tanokrom/Kokompe area and pulled down kiosks and containers belonging to the artisans.

According to city authorities, the 22-acre land the artisans were occupying had been purchased by a foreign investor, Western Development Consortium to construct a modern shopping mall.

A representative of the investors, Mr. Peter Obosu told the media that a 58-acre land had been secured at Mampong-Kansaweredo for the artisans to undertake their operations there.

He said some facilities such as electricity, water tanks for the provision of potable water and toilet facility had been provided at the new site.