The Ogua Traditional Council has called on residents of Cape Coast especially traders to stay calm as measures are being taken to find an amicable solution to the Kotokuraba Market brouhaha.
In an exclusive interview with 3news.com at Emintsimadze Palace, Osabarima Kwesi Atta II urged the people of Cape Coast to ensure peace prevails.
The call for calm comes following what has become a major controversy in the Cape Coast metropolis over the allocation of shops of the new market.
The allocation of the shops by the Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly (CCMA), according to some traders, was done in a bias manner to favour some sympathizers of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
This development has over the past two weeks led to two press conferences by a group calling itself Concerned Assembly Members.
They have registered their displeasure at the turn of events in the shop allocation.
The brouhaha also led to a demonstration last Tuesday. The demonstration was organised by the Concerned Assembly Members and some traders, who took to the principal streets of Cape Coast.
Asked if the Oguaa Traditional Council has been petitioned by the aggrieved party, Osabarima Kwesi Atta II said the Emintsimaadze or the traditional council has not been served officially with such a complaint.
“We have not received any official complaint from any group as we speak but only hear about it in the media,” he said.
He added that some individuals have come to see him privately about the issue.
Osabarima Kwesi Atta II admonished all aggrieved traders who have not been allocated shops to stay calm as the Oguaa Traditional Council initiates moves to meet the Mayor of Cape Coast, Ernest Arthur, and officials of CCMA over the matter.
He assured that the Council will intervene and ensure fairness and justice is done in the allocation of the shops.
“We stand for peace, fairness and justice so [we] will ask everyone to exercise restraint because the MCE himself has been out of town and expected back by this weekend.
“So, we are hopeful when he comes back next all of these issues would be settled.”
The new Kotokuraba Market was secured through an EXIM Bank loan from the Chinese government and completed in November, 2016.
It has suffered some controversies including court litigations affecting its full opening for business.
Meanwhile, a visit to the market Thursday saw some traders who have been allocated shops, arranging their wares in order to start business.
By Thomas Vincent Cann|3news.com|Ghana