The Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) has directed a Chinese investor constructing permanent structures on the Mankoadze roundabout greenbelt to suspend work.

This follows a demonstration against the sale and development of the greenbelt by the shop owners at the Tema Industrial Market popularly known as the Mankoadze market.

They indicated during the protest that putting up permanent structures on the greenbelt poses danger to them and residents  as there would be  no open space  to run to  during  a fire outbreak and other disasters.

The Tema Metropolitan Assembly’s Public Relations Officer, Frank Asante, said following the demonstration, the Chief Executive Officer of the Assembly, Felix Mensah Nii Anang-La, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Barima Tweneboah Sasraku II, Tema Regional Police Commander, and other officials met the parties and agreed that the project should be suspended.

Mr Asante said it was agreed that the parties must discuss the issue and come out with a win-win plan.

On the redevelopment of the Tema Community 9 market, he said the traders had been asked to nominate five people to represent them on the Assembly’s Market Development Committee.

According to him, the committee would be responsible for proper inventory of structures, and persons in the market as well as the planning of their relocation to the Community 7 Chemu Park and the allocation of the shops after completion of the redevelopment.

The TMA wants to redevelop the 16-year-old market which does not have any proper structure, into a three-storey, two-unit modern market with parking space and other amenities.