Kejetia Traders Call On Authorities To Intervene

Some traders who were evicted from the Kejetia Market in Kumasi a few months ago, have taken over some parts of the of race course road in Kumasi. According to the traders, they were compelled to act in that manner because of the unhygienic situation of where they have currently been relocated. Authorities of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) have asked the traders to relocate to the Adehyeman market to allow for the first phase of the reconstruction of the Kumasi central market. This comes despite numerous agitations from the traders who are accusing the officials of not providing them with a definite relocation plan for the evacuation exercise. Some traders who spoke to Citi News� Ashanti Regional correspondent, Hawa Iddrisu, raised concern at the unbearable situation at the new area. �I am also a trader here at the race course, I sell belts. The dust has compelled us to sell by the road side. Our customers prefer to buy from us here because they do not want to buy from us when we sell to them in the dusty area,� one trader remarked. Another trader also said, �I also sell at race course, the dust is too severe here and aside that we do not have anyone to water the ground to reduce it, we want authorities to water the place for us to reduce the dust �we were sacked from our previous place and we do not have any place to go and sell.� Meanwhile the KMA says plans are far advanced for the reconstruction of three other markets in Kumasi. These include; the Atonsu, Tafo and Asawase markets. Spokesperson for the mayor of KMA, Sammy Gyamfi confirmed the progress of work to Citi News, �We will very soon commence the actual construction of three new satellite markets in the Kumasi metropolitan assembly�the assembly has duly gone through very international competitive bidding processes and we have awarded all these market sites to various contractors. We have proceeded to sign necessary agreements with them, so we have in turn decided to release these market sites to them to begin the construction�, he said.