Due to what they regarded as the government's disdain for traditional and local authority, the government's declaration of developing an automobile cluster in Afienya may not gain the approval of the Chiefs and people.
The Greater Accra Regional Minister has announced the development of a West African Automotive Hub in Ghana, which would be located in Afienya in the Greater Accra region's Ningo Prampram area.
The project will entail the transfer of Abossey Okai's spare parts dealers to Afienya.
The Chief of Afienya, Nene Tetteh Afutu III, told Gbcghanaonline.com that he and his people cannot take the government seriously since they have never been involved in a project that is intended to come on their territory.
According to them, the government has neglected to engage them about the project being built on their property, either through the ministry of commerce or the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating led by Regional Minister Mr. Henry Quartey.
Even if the initiative is admirable, the government may fail if sufficient stakeholder involvement and consultations are not carried out, according to the Chief of Afienya.
Despite the Minister's lack of timeframes, many expect the project will begin shortly.
He added that the area on which the project would be built is being challenged by traditional authority, who are demanding the release of land that they claim the government has taken without compensation.
As a result, he stated that the government cannot just develop such a project without consulting the Chiefs.
Meanwhile, Habib Mohammed, the Assemblyman for the Afienya Electoral Area in Ningo-Prampram Municipality, echoed the chief's assertions by implying that the assembly has not been involved in the project.
If the initiative is to succeed, he believes that more consultation is required.
Even though the initiative is praiseworthy, Alhaji Abubakar Afutu, the Muslim Chief of Afienya Dangme, shares the same worry about the need for adequate community and stakeholder participation.
He believes that youth education is vital to guarantee that such an automobile endeavor benefits them. As a result, he is urging the government to develop secondary and tertiary education institutions in the area in order to better prepare the youth for such chances.
Aside from the land difficulties, a group calling itself the "National Concerned Spare Parts Dealers Association" promised to fight any attempt by the government to move them to Afienya at a news conference held last Tuesday, May 10th, 2022.