Nsawam Traders Revolt Against MCE Over EPA Fee Hikes Amid Deepening Assembly Chaos

Tension is escalating in the Nsawam-Adoagyiri Municipality as angry traders prepare to hit the streets on Tuesday in a planned demonstration against the Municipal Chief Executive, accusing him of failing to protect local businesses from what they describe as “crippling” Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) charges and harassment.

 

The traders, many of whom are expected to march through the principal streets of Nsawam with red bands tied around their necks and heads, say they are fed up with what they call the silence and inaction of the Municipal Chief Executive, Philibert Fummey Amenorpe, over the growing standoff between the Municipal Assembly and the EPA.

According to the aggrieved traders, the latest EPA fee increments and enforcement exercises have created unbearable pressure on small businesses, market women, transport operators and shop owners within the municipality.

They argue that the Assembly, which is expected to defend the interests of local residents, has instead remained powerless while the EPA allegedly imposes policies without consultation or sensitivity to the economic struggles of traders.

The unfolding confrontation has exposed what many residents describe as a dangerous breakdown in coordination between two state institutions operating under the same government administration.

Critics say the apparent public disagreement between the Municipal Chief Executive and officials of the EPA paints a worrying picture of confusion and weak local governance.

At the centre of the controversy are claims that the EPA has allegedly made it clear that the MCE has no authority over its operations, a position that has triggered outrage among traders and sections of the public who believe the Assembly is gradually losing relevance in matters affecting local businesses and residents.

“This raises serious questions about who is really in charge in the municipality,” some of the traders reportedly argued ahead of the protest. “If the MCE cannot intervene or negotiate on behalf of the people, then what exactly is the purpose of the Assembly?”

The controversy has also taken a political dimension, with critics pointing out that both the EPA leadership and the MCE belong to the same ruling political establishment, yet appear unable to resolve what should ordinarily have been handled internally through dialogue and coordination.

For many residents, the public friction reflects a deeper governance crisis within the municipality, with some accusing state institutions of sidelining local concerns while imposing decisions from above without adequate engagement with affected communities.

The traders further accuse the EPA of operating like an “untouchable institution” that disregards local authorities and community concerns while aggressively pursuing revenue collection and regulatory enforcement.

Sources within the municipality say attempts to calm tensions ahead of Tuesday’s planned demonstration have so far yielded little results as anger continues to grow among traders and youth groups.

The planned protest is expected to place enormous pressure on the Municipal Chief Executive, who is now facing increasing criticism from residents demanding stronger leadership and immediate intervention to halt the fee hikes and restore calm.