The Sekondi Takoradi Metro Chief Executive, Captain Anthony Cudjoe(Retired) is cautioning the Ghana Air Force base in Takoradi not to let their interest impede the development of the Sekondi Takoradi Metropolis.
His threat comes months after the Air Force is reported to have warned that a proposed shopping mall is on a flight path and that the land has been given to second hand car dealers at the site.
The mayor is reported to have insisted that the mall isn’t a high rise structure which will obstruct air traffic. “It will also employ over five thousand people with 2,500 permanent workers”.
Despite the Air Force’s earlier concern the Sekondi Takoradi mayor has given a directive to the second hand car dealers at the frontage of the proposed site for the construction of the Takoradi Shopping Mall to vacate the land within the next 24 hours.
According to the mayor, the attitude of the Air force to hijack progress of the Twin City is uncalled for.
“Why is it that the little interest of the Air Force to get money from the occupants of the land is going to frustrate this project?” Captain Cudjoe queried.
According to him several discussions have gone on between him and the National Air Force commander, has given the green light to the project, but the “local Air force base commander is refusing to obey instructions of his boss.”
He indicated that if by close of today (Wednesday 18th June), the occupant of the land refuses to exit the site, he will move in forcefully.
“If I have to see the chief of defense staff I will go, if I have to see the minister of defense, I will tell my regional minister and see him because the land does not belong to the Air force”. The mayor threatened.
The ex-military captain questioned the source of power on which the Air Force bases its argument of land ownership, when according to him the land had been sold by the Lands Commission “showing clearly the limits of the land belonging to the Air Force so the question is what audacity does the Air Force have to continue with such illegality”.
The land in question was at the centre of controversy between the assembly and the Tanokrom Kokompe Artisans who were forcefully moved to Kansaworado Mampong, a suburb of Sekondi.
By: Obrempong Yaw Ampofo/citifmonline.com/Ghana