Report by Ben LARYEA
The Abossey Okai Spare Parts Dealers Association has responded to the press conference held last Tuesday 10th May, 2022 by the “National concerned Spare Parts Dealers Association” and have outlined the issues regarding the relocation of their business to a more convenient location at Afienya in the Greater Accra.
Addressing the media under the presence of armed military and police officers, the Co-chair of the Association, Mr. Clement Boateng said the issue of relocation has been on the drawing board for over thirty years as their predecessors have all supported successive governments on the relocation.
He said the Regional Minister, Mr. Henry Quartey had a meeting with the Association and Kokompe spare parts traders and pledged government’s support by putting up an ultra-modern West Africa automotive hub at Afienya and will include shops, workshops, vehicle sales centres, financial institutions, one bedroom facility, hospital, police station, supermarkets, a railway line to transport goods from Tema to the site, as well as stadium, schools, restaurants and custom bonded warehouse at the trading hub.
“The proposed areas outlined were Afienya, Dawenya, Pokuase and beyond but the Honorable Regional Minister made us to understand that the available land now is at Afienya”, he added and message in that regard was conveyed to all members on the general meetings to solicit their views on the project and there was an overwhelming support from all members.
He said some shop owners started to express their displeasure about the project and engaged them on meetings and assured them that nobody is going to be forcefully ejected from Abossey Okai and decided to kick against the project. The Co-chair said the security situation at the market is bad, sanitation is not the best, pilfering is at its highest order and customers can’t even get place to park their cars to patronize spare parts and no wash rooms.
“We cannot let this project slip out of our hands because of the selfish and parochial interest of the minority to the detriment of the majority. The world is evolving and is about time we adjust ourselves to meet the demands of the growing automotive industry” he explained.
“The Association wish to inform members that we have re-open the registration and will therefore urge members who have not register to do so immediately and will continue to serve the interest of our members in all endeavors” he stated.
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