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A group calling itself the La Citizens Network has petitioned the Minister of Trade and Industry (MoTI), Alan Kyerematen, to intervene over the impasse regarding ownership of lands at the La Trade Fair Centre in Accra.

The group has resolved to prevent the development of any new project on their land arguing that the survival of the people of La “is under threat, our people are endangered and being forced unto extinction; this is unacceptable”.

The group, in a petition on Monday, 5 February 2018 said they were informed after the appointment of the new CEO of the Trade Fair Centre that “a multi-billion dollar investment is expected to take place and a bid had been tendered by the government of Ghana”.

For them, they are at a loss concerning who have been designated as shareholders to benefit from the project.

Again, they questioned whether the Trade Fair redevelopment project will “be like the Airport City Project, where prime lands were taken from La without any compensation”.

The aggrieved group pointed out that demolition exercises have commenced and the minister needs to intervene “before things get out of hand”.

The group said: “La people shall demand and insist on their rights until the last pesewa of the accrued compensation due La on the Trade Fair has been paid from the old debts”.

They are demanding that per the new arrangements, “we need to be legally and formally represented with a negotiation from made up of qualified men, where our equity or stakes are clearly defined”.