Member of Parliament for Ashaiman, Ernest Henry Norgbey, has dismissed claims by protesters that he has remained silent over the forced evacuation from their trading area.
On Friday, August 15, the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly evicted more than 200 traders, including street hawkers, from pavements near the Ashaiman Interchange. As part of the decongestion exercise, assembly workers demolished structures belonging to the traders.
Addressing the demonstrators, Norgbey explained that an initial meeting was held in 2024 with the traders under the Peaceful Settlement Association to discuss the way forward, following private developers’ interest in building on the land.
He noted that directives had been issued before the matter was taken to court. The MP emphasized that he cannot intervene while the case is pending, stating that the final verdict rests solely with the judiciary.
Norgbey added that he will meet with the Municipal Chief Executive to deliberate on the possibility of excluding the contested land from the decongestion exercise. “Let us all understand that I am not to determine who the land belongs to because I was not there. I don’t know. It is only the court that can do that,” he told protesters.
