BY Issah Olegor
A major political and economic storm is brewing in the Nsawam–Adoagyiri Municipal Assembly in the Eastern Region as angry traders and block factory operators openly accuse Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) Hon. Philibert Fummey Amenorpe and the Environmental Protection Agency of imposing what they describe as “killer fees” capable of collapsing local businesses.
The growing tension has triggered open rebellion among members of the Nsawam–Adoagyiri Blocks and Concrete Products Association, who on Tuesday embarked on a protest demonstration wearing red bands around their necks and heads to symbolize anger, frustration, and economic hardship.
The traders, while addressing the media, accused both the Assembly and the EPA of implementing harsh environmental compliance requirements without proper consultation, stakeholder engagement, or public education.
The controversy follows a recent enforcement exercise by the EPA targeting block factories and concrete product operators within the municipality over registration and compliance obligations under an amended Legislative Instrument (L.I.).
However, what has intensified public outrage is the apparent confusion and public disagreement between the MCE and the EPA over who actually controls the enforcement process and the fee structures being imposed on businesses.
Many traders insist the ongoing friction between the two institutions is nothing more than a political blame game intended to shield the Assembly from public anger while the EPA aggressively enforces the controversial charges.
According to several affected operators, the Assembly cannot distance itself from the exercise since both institutions operate under the same government administration and within the same municipality.
“This cannot happen without the Assembly knowing,” one furious trader reportedly stated during the protest. “The MCE cannot pretend to be innocent while businesses are suffering.”
The traders argue that while the MCE publicly appears powerless, the EPA continues to storm workplaces with demands many small-scale operators cannot afford.
Critics within the municipality say the situation has exposed what they describe as a serious leadership breakdown and lack of coordination between state institutions.
Others have gone further to accuse the Assembly and the EPA of engaging in what they called a “good cop, bad cop” strategy — with the MCE acting publicly sympathetic while the EPA performs the unpopular enforcement role.
At the center of the controversy is a petition submitted by the Nsawam–Adoagyiri Blocks and Concrete Products Association to both the MCE and the EPA demanding immediate intervention and relief.
In the petition signed by Association President Emmanuel Yaw Mortsi and Secretary Daniel Amponsah, the traders complained that businesses were never adequately sensitized about the new compliance regulations before enforcement began.
The association argued that institutions responsible for public education failed to properly engage industry stakeholders, leaving many operators shocked and financially stranded.
According to the petition, the implementation process has created fear, uncertainty, and panic among local business owners whose livelihoods depend entirely on the industry.
“We therefore view the manner of implementation as unfair and detrimental to the growth and sustainability of our local enterprises,” portions of the petition stated.
The association is now demanding a three-month grace period to allow operators sufficient time to complete registration and compliance requirements without intimidation or penalties.
The traders are also calling for an immediate review of the charges and sanctions, insisting the current fees are excessive and unrealistic considering the harsh economic conditions facing local businesses.
Additionally, they are demanding continuous stakeholder engagement and public education to ensure operators fully understand the requirements of the new environmental regulations before enforcement resumes.
Despite the tension, the association says it remains committed to cooperating with the Assembly and the EPA to ensure full compliance, provided authorities adopt what they describe as a “fair and humane” approach.
But the protest has already transformed into a politically sensitive issue within the municipality, with some traders threatening to “deal with” the MCE politically if immediate steps are not taken to address their grievances.
