The Suame Magazine Mechanical Association has insisted that it was the only body responsible for the management of the Magazine Old Site, a metal fabrication enclave in the Suame Municipality of the Ashanti Region.

Mr Sarpong Boateng, the Chairman, addressing a press conference at ‘Magazine’ at Suame in that Municipality, claimed that they had since time immemorial been given that mandate by both the government and the traditional authorities owning that land space.

“The Association by this mandate remains the controller and care-taker Association of the Magazine Old Site,” Mr Boateng, noted, saying they were determined to defend this constitutional mandate with zeal.

He cautioned the Garages Association, a rival group of artisans in the area, reported to have wrongly arrogated to itself the responsibility of managing the Old Site, to stay clear.

“It is absurd that members of Garages continue to illegally hold themselves as owners of the Old Site, a situation sabotaging efforts by the Municipal Assembly to develop the area.

What is even more disturbing is the manner in which these people have been harassing innocent artisans who fail to recognize their self-imposed positions, creating confusion in the area,” Mr. Boateng remarked.

This, according to the Mechanical Association, sometimes resulted in tension with its attendant negative consequences for artisans at the Old Site, as their businesses were disrupted.

Mr Boateng said there was the need for the right thing to be done in order to create a harmonious environment for the development of the area into a state-of-the-art facility.

“We have a visionary and dynamic Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) in the caliber of Dr. John Osei Bobie-Boahin, who is bent on transforming the Magazine Old Site for the better, and, therefore, ought to be given the needed support,” the Chairman said.

He called on the Ministry of Trade and Industry, as well as the Ashanti Regional Security Council (REGSEC) to act decisively to nip in the bud those nefarious activities by the Garages before the Mechanical Association vented their spleen on the members.

“We are sounding a note of caution to members of the group to respect decorum or face the wrath of the Mechanical Association,” Mr. Sarpong Boateng cautioned.