Today can report that scores of traders, particularly tilapia sellers, who live close to the Weija Dam in Kasoa in the Central region, have turned the popular Tuba Junction in the area, into a tilapia joint, putting their lives and that of commuters at great risk.
Most of these traders, Today learnt, migrated from the Volta region, specifically Sogakope, to engage in this business.
This paper’s investigations revealed that the development which started with one person has gradually increased to over twenty tilapia sellers with majority of them being school dropouts.
What was worrying, according to some residents at Tuba Junction, was how to handle any calamity which may occur as result of the brisk business at the junction by the tilapia sellers.
“For how long are we going to be silent over this issue that can lead to disasters? This activity is not only putting our lives in danger but also the public as a whole, because a vehicle can run over any of us whilst we are busily trading,” a trader who gave her name as Maame Esi told this reporter.
In an interview with Today, the Tuba Junction traders though admitted it was inappropriate for them to sell at the place indicating that they were aware of the dangers it posed to them, however, claimed there was nowhere else they could go.
They cited an instance where one of their colleagues was knocked down by a motorbike.
Some of the traders, especially those of school going age, said: “we are into this risky business because of necessity so as to help us take care of our basic needs.”
According to them, the tilapia business is the only source of their income.
To this end, the traders appealed to the authorities to have pity on them and not drive them away from their present location since the place had become their only source of livelihood.
Earlier in an interview with this reporter, Ga South Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Jerry Acquaye Thompson, denied having any knowledge of the activities of the tilapia sellers at the said location.
He, however, promised that his outfit would do well to follow up on the issue and put the necessary structures in place so as to solve this life-threatening issue.
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