Tensions are rising at the Abuja CMB market in Accra, where members of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) are protesting what they describe as a land-grab threatening their operations and the city’s food supply chain.
The drivers insist that land originally allocated for a lorry station has been encroached upon by private developers and traders, disrupting one of the capital’s busiest transport and trading hubs.
“This space was meant for vehicles transporting food from the hinterlands into Accra. Without it, our work — and the city’s food supply — will suffer,” one protesting driver said.
The Abuja CMB enclave is a critical link in Greater Accra’s commerce, serving as the point of entry for much of the fresh produce and food items sold in markets across the capital. Stakeholders fear that further encroachment could choke off this vital artery.
Amid the uproar, Klottey Korle MP Dr. Zanetor Agyemang Rawlings has waded into the controversy, urging the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to investigate the alleged takeover. She revealed that she had previously petitioned the Transport Ministry after learning the land belonged to the Railways Department Authority.
“This is clearly state land and should not be taken over by private individuals, especially when it is unclear who is granting permission,” she warned, stressing that the livelihoods of thousands of market women and drivers hang in the balance.
The MP reminded authorities that the CMB market was kept open even during the COVID-19 lockdown, underscoring its essential role in sustaining Accra’s food supply.
Protesters say they will continue to mount pressure until government clarifies ownership of the land and restores its use as a lorry station.
