Agbogbloshie scrap dealers vow to vote against the NPP over eviction, putting the party in trouble

In the Odododiodio constituency, scrap traders at Agbogbloshie Old Fadama have voiced their displeasure with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and promised to vote against the ruling party in the next elections. The government's purported inability to develop the land from which they were evicted in 2021 is the reason behind their decision (citinewsroom).

Henry Quartey, the Greater Accra Regional Minister at the time, led the eviction as part of the "Let's Make Accra Work" campaign. Decongestion, environmental issues, and paving the way for reconstruction were the objectives of the exercise. But three years after the eviction, the impacted scrap dealers say they feel abandoned and deceived because no major progress has been made on the cleared area.

After being moved to different locations outside of the city, many of these junk dealers have had difficulty reestablishing their companies. They contend that the government has failed to deliver on its promises of improved working conditions and alternate sources of income. They feel that this shows a lack of concern for their well-being.

A representative for the junk dealers bemoaned, "We were promised that the land would be used for something meaningful that would benefit the community, but till now, it's just lying idle." We are still waiting for the government to keep its promises after losing our means of subsistence. We are no longer able to support the NPP because of this (citinewsroom).

The financial difficulties the junk sellers have experienced after the expulsion were also brought to light. The move interfered with their everyday operations, as many of them depended on the thriving Agbogbloshie market. They claim that their circumstances have gotten worse as a result of the government's inability to offer them sufficient support after they were evicted.

Political tension has been raised by this occurrence in the Odododiodio constituency, which is a crucial electoral battleground in Ghana. By pledging to address their issues if elected to power, opposition parties are taking advantage of the chance to interact with the disillusioned demographic.

In contrast, the NPP has backed the expulsion, arguing that it was required for Accra's overall growth. They haven't yet offered a thorough justification, though, for the hold-up in using the abandoned land.

The complaints of the Agbogbloshie scrap sellers underscore the significance of accountability and the necessity of policies that put the well-being of impacted communities first as the elections draw near. Their position is a warning that broken pledges can have serious political repercussions.