I Wept For Kantamanto Traders � Sammy Awuku

A Deputy Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Samuel Awuku has said he was so devastated with the way and manner the Ghana Police Service and the Military handled issues concerning traders who lost their goods during the Kantamanto fire outbreak last Sunday. According to him, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) boss, Alfred Oko Vanderpuije�s visit to the market does not need any Police and Military personnel to force the aggrieved trader to evacuate the market in an attempt to erect an ultra-modern market as claimed by him. �If the AMA boss who met with the traders brought the police and the military to fire tear gas at the traders at a time they (the traders) are in tears. They (AMA) want to tell them (traders) that it�s wrong to work. For me, I find this so bad,� he said. Some of the traders, whose wares were destroyed by the fire which razed down the entire Kantamanto market, clashed with personnel of the Ghana Police Service on Monday evening during an attempt by the police to take control of the area. Gunshots were heard from the area as the Police tried to secure the burnt market whiles the traders were disperse with tear gas. �If I look at some of the pictures of the police attacking the traders on the internet, and how they were maltreated, including women, I wept. At this stage, some of the trader can be affected psychologically because they have lost everything to the fire. Some went for loans and that is most difficult part for them to pay the bank with interest, it�s likely some will go mad. ��the government could have taken into consideration and help them (traders) out of their situation before helping them. You don�t put pepper into the eyes of these people when already they are wailing,� Sammy Awuku told Asempa FM.