Accra Mayor, Alfred Vanderpuye, has defended his action to dismantle a corn mill in the city centre.

The move yesterday attracted angry protests from market women at Odorna where the corn mill was located. The women complained the removal of the mill will cost them money because they have to cart their goods to other parts of the city to mill at a great cost and inconvenience.

But the city authorities have stood their grounds, accusing the owner of smoking wee.

The Mayor told Joy News he was forced to take action because the owner engaged in unapproved activities and failed to heed several cautions.

“The gentleman who has been operating that corn mill has no permission to operate that corn mill…and coupled with that his activities have been the best; he has broken the AMA wall that was constructed before the market was created,” he said.

The Mayor said the operator of the corn mill, in violation of a bond he signed with the police two weeks ago never to go back to the operate the mill, went there and continued in his ways.

Mr. Vanderpuije also denied allegations that he took the action to force the market women to join an association they do not want to belong to.