Demolition of parts of Kantamanto suspended

Accra, Sept. 10, GNA - The demolition of certain structures in the Kantanmanto Market scheduled to begin on Sunday to pave way for its development into stores and a guest house has been suspended to give enough notice to the traders to comply with the directive to leave the area.

A police source told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the exercise had been suspended because of the erroneous impression created by a section of the media that the entire Katanmanto Market was going to be affected by the exercise.

"We do not want to have any confrontation with the traders and we have agreed with the man in-charge to delay the exercise for a week," the source said.

Bremark Ventures Limited, which had acquired about 230 by 200 feet around the Liberty House Branch the Ghana Commercial Bank from the Ghana Railway Company, had scheduled Sunday for the commencement of the demolition of the structures. Some 2,000 traders are expected to be affected by the action.

When the Ghana News Agency got to the Katamanto Market, some of the traders were busy pulling down their structures and removing their items in an early morning rain. They had pulled down structures and were seen removing the wood, roofing sheets and their goods. Others were, however, seen going about their businesses despite the impending action.

Bremark Venture Limited sued Ghana Railway Company and Mr Ahmed Ayuba at the High Court in Accra in May this year asking for a declaration of to the title to the land and seeking recovery of possession and damages.

Neither the Ghana Railway Company nor Mr Ayuba entered appearance and judgement was made in default of appearance. Mr Kwame Danquah, Chief Executive of Bremark Ventures, had told the court, presided over by Mr Justice Victor Ofoe that his company applied to the Ghana Railway Company for a portion of the land in the Central District of Accra to develop stores and shops to support the railways modernization and beautification scheme.

According to him, Bremark was to put up a four-storey building comprising stores, offices and a restaurant. There was also to be a 10-seater Guest House for the Ghana Railway Company.

He said this application was accepted on January 24, 2003 and the MD of the Ghana Railway Company sent Bremark a lease offer letter stating the lease conditions and an attached site plan. Mr Danquah said the Company went through all the processes and paid the Accra Metropolitan Assembly 62.2 million cedis for a permit. The court was told that after going through all these they proceeded to take possession to take possession and prepare the land for the development to take of. It was then that Mr Ayuba and some armed men resisted. "A complaint to the MD of Ghana Railway Company did not yield any positive result."

The Court ruled that Bremark had performed its part under the contract.

"I will make an order directed at the Managing Director of Ghana Railway Company to perform his part of the agreement and not in any way disturb the plaintiff (Bremark) from taking over possession of the land and developing it as agreed upon," Mr Justice Ofoe ruled.

He ordered the MD of Ghana Railway Company to complete the process signing a formal lease of the plot and restrained the Ghana Railway Company from interfering in any way with Bremark's possession of the land.

Meanwhile, the concerned Kantamanto Second Hand Traders Association said it was saddened by the continuous attempts being made by Bremak Ventures Limited to demolish the Market/Ghana Railway quarters buildings and thereby deprive thousands of Ghanaians of their means of livelihood. A statement signed by Mr Ansah David Solomon, a representative of the traders, also questioned the contradictions and inconsistencies in government plans of developing the railway system, while at the same time selling government lands meant for development purposes to private individuals for commercial purposes.

"This we regard as part of the illegal sale of government lands with absolutely no regard to public interest," the statement said. The Association said the unwarranted attempt to deprive members of their livelihood without provisions for relocation was inhuman, especially considering its economic effects on the lives, families and welfare of the traders.

The statement said if the government did not stop the developer from carrying out his plans it would lead to massive unemployment with its consequent effects on the national economy. The association, therefore, appealed to government to intervene to save the traders from the cruel attempt to deprive of their means of existence. 10 Sept. 06