Over 100 traders under the Peaceful Settlement Association in Ashaiman on Monday, August 18, staged a peaceful demonstration against what they describe as an “unlawful eviction” from a disputed parcel of land, despite the matter being under a court injunction.
The group claims that the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly (ASHMA) is attempting to seize their land and hand it over to a private developer, even though they possess documents proving legal ownership.
According to the traders, some of their shops have already been demolished, leaving many without a source of livelihood.
Speaking at the protest, the Association’s spokesperson, Jeffery Eli, accused municipal officials of intimidation and acting in contempt of the ongoing court case.
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“We are here to protest against the municipal executives for intimidating us into signing an illegal agreement with a private developer. These developers called us into an office and demanded we sign an agreement with the encroacher so he could take over the land. The land belongs to the Peaceful Settlement Association, and we have documents to prove ownership,” he said.
Mr. Eli further alleged that the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) was hiding behind a supposed decongestion exercise to pressure the traders into settling the matter out of court.
“We do not understand why the MCE is intimidating us under the guise of decongestion and attempting to settle the matter out of court. The case is in court, and it should be decided there,” he insisted.
The traders have vowed to resist any attempt to forcibly remove them from the site until the court delivers its ruling.
Meanwhile, ASHMA has yet to publicly respond to the allegations.
The protest adds to rising tensions in Ashaiman over land disputes, with many residents and business operators urging government authorities to respect due process and the rule of law.
