Member of Parliament for Klottey Korle, Dr Zanetor Agyemang Rawlings, has called on the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to launch full investigations into the alleged grabbing of lands at the Abuja CMB market in Accra.

The request follows demonstrations by drivers of the Ghana Private Roads Union (GPRTU), who are demanding the return of land they say was originally earmarked for a lorry station but has now been taken over by traders and private developers.

Speaking at a press conference on the matter in Parliament, Dr Rawlings revealed that she had earlier petitioned the sector minister to secure the land after learning it belonged to the Railways Department Authority.

“I was obliged to write a petition to the minister at the time based on this and to ask that the land there be secured since we had been informed that the land belonged to the railways department,” she explained.

“And so what I would like to do at this point is also submit a copy of the documentation that has been ongoing in terms of correspondence back and forth.”

She stressed the importance of the enclave to both commerce and food security in the capital.

“The reality of it is the CMB Abuja enclave is one that holds a very key part of commerce in Greater Accra, also a very important part of our food chain in an urban centre because most of the food that comes in from the hinterland actually arrives at the Abuja CMB market,” she said.

According to her, the trucks that transport food into the city depend on the lorry stations in the area, making the alleged land sale particularly troubling.

“I would like to stand unequivocally and condemn what is happening in this enclave because it is very clear that this land is state land and should not be taken over by private individuals, especially when we are not sure who is giving the permission,” she said.

Dr Rawlings called on the Ministry of Transport, under which railway development falls, to clarify matters while also urging EOCO to act swiftly.

“I would like to call on the Minister of Transport, under whom the railway development is situated, to really come out and give clear guidance on this. In addition to that, I would like to call on EOCO to investigate this because this is causing a huge uproar in terms of people’s stability,” she said.

She warned that thousands of livelihoods and Accra’s food supply chain were at risk if the situation is not resolved.

“A huge part of our informal sector is situated in the CMB Abuja market enclave, and a lot of people, over thousands of market women, not to mention the hundreds of drivers who operate there, will be completely devastated in terms of their livelihoods, and it will affect our food security in Accra.

“Sometimes it appears as though some of these things may not be related, but this is related to our very livelihood and our food security. It's the reason why, during the lockdown of COVID, the market was allowed to continue operating,” she added.