The Aowin Paramount Chief, Beyeeman Tano Kwaw Benbuin III, has criticised MCE Stephen Morcher over the demolition of the old Enchi market, saying wider community consultation should have preceded the decision.

The Paramount Chief argued that residents and affected traders should have been given a greater opportunity to contribute to discussions surrounding the redevelopment of the market.

He said the Aowin Municipal Assembly should not implement major development projects without adequately considering the views of the people who would be directly affected.

“Because the Municipal Assembly don’t respect the people, a broader consultation was not made,” he said in a video circulating on social media.

The traditional leader questioned why Morcher could not have chosen another location for the proposed market, especially given what he described as the availability of land in Aowin.

“Can’t they build the market elsewhere and leave this one there for the people because land is not our problem in Aowin?” he asked.

He also expressed concern about the resources already invested in the old market, which had been developed progressively under successive administrations.

The demolition was spearheaded by Morcher as part of plans to construct a new market linked to the government’s 24-hour economy programme. However, the decision has attracted criticism from residents and political actors in the municipality.

In a related development, NPP Aowin Constituency Chairman Samuel Yaw Obeng described the demolition as unfortunate and said the market should not have been pulled down without adequate consultation and arrangements for affected traders.

He urged Morcher to reconsider the approach and ensure the project takes into account the concerns of market women and other traders, arguing that development should protect livelihoods and promote unity.

The controversy has reportedly also caused unease among some NDC supporters in Aowin, who fear the decision could negatively affect the party’s fortunes in the municipality.

The history of the market dates back to the Rawlings administration, when the land was acquired for development. Construction and subsequent expansion continued under later administrations, including through the efforts of former DCEs Kingsley Ofori Asante, Oscar Ofori Larbi, the current Aowin MP and Samuel Adu Gyamfi.