Barekese Youth Threaten to Block District Dump Site Over 24-Hour Market Dispute
Gladson Afriyie
Journalist
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Youth in Barekese are threatening to shut down the Atwima Nwabiagya North District’s refuse dump site if authorities go ahead with plans to site a new 24-hour market in Asuofua instead of Barekese.
The group argues that if Barekese is denied the promised market, the town should not be forced to host the district’s waste.
The warning follows reports that District Chief Executive Mba Zakaria and the District Assembly are set to cut sod for the market project in Asuofua on Tuesday. Barekese residents say they were earlier assured the facility would be built in their town to drive local commerce.
At a press conference, Ernest Kwadwo Adusei, Leader of the Barekese Youth Association, said traditional leaders had already released land for the project in Barekese. He expressed frustration that the Assembly now appears to be moving it elsewhere.
“We received information that, God willing, there will be a sod-cutting for the 24-hour market project at Asuofua on Tuesday,” Adusei said. “We are worried because the authorities came here, inspected the site meant for the project, provided us with documents, and gave us assurances.”
Adusei added that the DCE had told stakeholders during earlier engagements that government intended to build the market in Barekese. He also raised concerns over silence from the Ashanti Regional Minister, NDC Regional Executives, and the DCE after the youth submitted a petition on the issue.
“So this appears to have been their plan, which is why they stopped engaging us after inspecting the site,” he said. “We do not understand why the DCE now wants to take it to Asuofua, a town that already has three markets.”
The youth leader warned that if the sod-cutting proceeds in Asuofua, Barekese will bar the district from using its land for waste disposal.
“Every community in this district has land, so they should not bring waste from elsewhere to dump at our community’s refuse site,” Adusei said. “If Barekese, the district capital, does not deserve a 24-hour market, then we should not bear the burden of the district’s waste.”
