THE AHODWO Roundabout in Kumasi was on Wednesday afternoon turned into a mourning ground when KMA guards stormed the place with huge excavators to demolish shops.
About two hundred shop owners experienced the shock of their lives when the KMA personnel, without showing mercy, dismantled every shop that they came across in the serene area.
Those affected included petty traders, chop bar owners, car dealers, seamstresses and hair dressers among others.
Metal containers and the items stuffed in them were not spared, much to the chagrin of the shop owners, most of whom could not stand the horrible spectacle.
For a moment, the entire Ahodwo roundabout was turned into a funeral ground as shop owners were seen crying their hearts out following the destruction of their source of livelihood.
The decongestion exercise lasted many hours and caused heavy vehicular traffic in the area as vehicles plying the road were forced to slow down due to the exercise.
Most of the shop owners that spoke to Daily Guide on condition of anonymity, said the KMA did not give them prior information about the decongestion exercise.
They said had they been informed in advance, they would have removed their goods to prevent them from being destroyed.
Some shop owners who claimed to have done business in the area for many years, speculated that the KMA wants to give that portion of land to a wealthy man to develop.
They argued that the KMA had not been fair to them by not even informing them before destroying their source of livelihood.For now, the affected shop owners said they are powerless since they cannot take any action against the KMA who they accused of behaving like they are above the law.
They however vowed to show the KMA and the NDC government that they too are powerful during Election 2012 by voting the party out of office.
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