Presidential Adviser on the 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Goosie Tanoh has rejected claims that his office is responsible for the government’s 24-Hour Markets project.
Mr Tanoh said the 24-Hour Economy Secretariat had no role in developing the markets and should not be named in legal cases arising from the demolition of buildings to make way for the scheme.
“The 24-Hour Markets Project is not our responsibility. We are not into development of markets. We don’t know anything about that,” he said at a media briefing on 19 August.
He added that the Secretariat had been sued over the demolition of buildings, despite having no involvement in the project.
“We have been sued for demolition of buildings. Something that we have nothing to do with. Our lawyer is going to make an application to get our names off those suits,” he said.
According to Mr Tanoh, responsibility for the project lies with the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs.
He also said the markets were being financed through the District Assemblies Common Fund, meaning the 24-Hour Economy Secretariat had no authority over the programme.
“The markets are funded by the District Assemblies Common fund. So, we have no jurisdiction over that,” he stressed.
The 24-Hour Markets Project has faced growing public attention because of disputes over land and the destruction of existing structures earmarked for redevelopment.
One of the most recent incidents involved the demolition of a building occupied by Sekyedumase Rural Bank’s Aboabo branch in Kumasi.
On 12 August, the bank’s management threatened legal action after the building was pulled down to make way for a 24-hour market being led by the government.
The bank’s chief executive officer, Afriyie Michael Kwabena, said discussions with the Asokore Mampong Municipal Assembly about relocating the branch had been progressing before the demolition took place.
Speaking on Ghana Akoma on Akoma FM with Sir John, he said the Assembly had previously informed the bank about the market project and that both sides had held meetings to discuss the way forward.
“We have had meetings after the Assembly had informed us about the 24-hour market project. We even enquired whether the bank could be incorporated into the project design but that was unsuccessful.
The alternative was to get an alternative place for our operation. In fact, the Assembly allocated a place in the Asawase market, but we needed to inform our regulator for approval,” he said on 12 August.
Bank alleges abrupt demolition
Afriyie Michael Kwabena said the Assembly proceeded with the demolition without issuing the bank an official ejection notice.
He said several properties owned by the bank were destroyed during the exercise, including important documents.
“Several properties belonging to the bank were destroyed, including important documents.”
The bank said its customer information and records were protected because they were stored through its network system.
“But customer data and records remain intact due to our network system.”
However, the bank was unable to account for cash that had been kept in its vault at the time the building was demolished.
“Nonetheless, he said they could not account for hard cash “we could not account for about GHC10 million which was kept in our vault after the demolition.”
Mohammed Al-Jara, the presiding member of the Asokore Mampong Municipal Assembly, said the demolition had taken place before the General Assembly was informed.
He told Sir John that the Assembly had been expected to hold a General Assembly meeting to consider the matter, but that meeting did not take place.
“We were supposed to have a General Assembly to discuss the matter, but it didn’t happen,” he said.
Sekyedumase Rural Bank has indicated that it may go to court to force the Assembly to compensate it for the damage caused by the demolition.
