By Benjamin Nii Nai Anyetei
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Korle Klottey, Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, has called on the Minister for Transport and President John Dramani Mahama to urgently intervene in what she describes as attempts by private individuals to unlawfully take over the Abuja CMB Market in Accra.
According to her, the land on which the market operates is state property under the Ministry of Transport and the Ghana Railway Development Authority, and must not be ceded to private interests.
“This is a very important part of our food chain in an urban centre because most of the food that comes in from the hinterlands actually arrives at the Abuja CMB Market,” Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings said. “It is very clear that this land is state land and should not be taken over by private individuals.”
She explained that the market, which has existed since the 1980s, is home to thousands of market women and hundreds of commercial drivers, whose livelihoods are now under threat. Any disruption, she warned, would have devastating consequences for both food security in Accra and the informal economy that sustains many families.
Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings further questioned the legality of the takeover, demanding transparency from government agencies responsible for managing state lands.
“We are not sure who is giving the permission, and so I am calling on the Minister of Transport and the President to give clear guidance on this matter. We cannot, in the name of development, disenfranchise people whose existence is critical to the entire food chain,” she added.
She cautioned that beyond being a land dispute, the issue poses serious threats to stability, livelihoods, and food supply in the capital if left unresolved.
The Abuja CMB Market is one of Accra’s busiest food distribution hubs, serving as a key entry point for foodstuffs transported from rural farming communities to the capital.
