Auto mechanics, popularly known as magazine workers, in Nkoranza in the Bono East Region have raised concerns over the alleged illegal sale and encroachment on land allocated to them as a permanent working site in the Nkoranza South Municipality.
The mechanics, who held a press conference on Saturday, November 7, accused the Asaamanhene of the Nkoranza Traditional Council of allegedly facilitating the sale and encroachment on portions of their land.
According to the Association, the land was allocated to them by the late Okatakyie Agyemang Kodom 21 years ago to provide a permanent working space and address the growing menace of roadside mechanics in the municipality.
However, they claimed that their working area was gradually being taken over by developers, threatening the future of their businesses and livelihoods.
The press conference, led by the Association’s Chairman, Rashid Tahidu, popularly known as Cedi, attracted hundreds of mechanics, including master craftsmen and apprentices, who turned up in red attire to register their displeasure.
The aggrieved workers accused the traditional authority of attempting to take possession of portions of their allocated land and allegedly sell them to other individuals without their consent.
According to Rashid Tahidu, the Association’s original site covered a vast expanse of land, but portions of it had allegedly been taken over, leaving the mechanics concerned about the future of their operations.
He explained that the Association had initially agreed to allocate some portions of the land to Nana Asaamanhemaa and the Asaamanhene. However, they later discovered that additional portions were allegedly being allocated beyond what had been agreed upon.
“We agreed to allocate some pieces of land to Nana Asaamanhemaa and the Asaamanhene, but later discovered that the Asaamanhene was allocating larger portions of our land. This is unacceptable,” Rashid Tahidu stated.
He said the alleged encroachment had left several mechanics without adequate space to operate, threatening their livelihoods and worsening unemployment concerns in the municipality.
Rashid Tahidu further lamented that repeated efforts by the Association’s representatives to engage the traditional authorities had yielded little result.
He, therefore, appealed to the Nkoranzamanhene, Nana Kwame Baffoe IV, to intervene and help resolve the dispute. He also cautioned individuals against entering or undertaking any activities on the disputed land without the Association’s consent.
