Some Residents of Keta Central in the Volta Region have protested against the relocation of the government’s proposed 24-hour economy market and University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) pharmacy projects to other communities within the municipality.
The protesters described the decision as unfair and politically motivated, arguing that Keta Central remains the most suitable location for the projects due to its strong commercial activities and strategic position within the municipality.
Speaking on behalf of the residents, former Assembly Member for the Keta Central Electoral Area, James Ocloo Akorli, rejected claims that the community lacks land for development projects and accused authorities of sidelining the area despite its contribution to the municipality’s growth.
“It is not true to say that we don’t have the lands for development projects; the relocation of the projects amounts to a betrayal of the community that has supported the government’s agendas consistently.
“We are calling on President John Dramani Mahama, who gave us the promise to intervene and ensure that Keta Central receive its fair share of national development including the UHAS pharmacy and 24-hour economic market respectively,” he said.
The residents further argued that relocating the 24-hour economy market defeats the objective of the policy because Keta Central already operates a vibrant round-the-clock trading system and serves as a major commercial hub for traders, commuters and fishing communities along the coast.
Meanwhile, Municipal Chief Executive Wisdom Seade and Keta MP Kwame Dzudzorli Gakpey, in an earlier interview with the Ghana News Agency, maintained that adequate stakeholder engagement was conducted before the projects were relocated, adding that ongoing land litigation in parts of the area remains a major obstacle to development.
