Kumasi traders demonstrate against KMA

Hundreds of traders at the Afiakobi market in the Ashanti region, on Thursday hit the principal streets of Kumasi to demonstrate against the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly’s (KMA) refusal to rid hawkers off the streets of the garden city. About three years ago, some traders were evicted from the Race Course area, when the Asantehene Otumfour Osei Tutu II asked them to vacate the area for the establishment of a modern mall. These traders subsequently relocated to the Abinkyi market in the same region, but some traders have refused to move to the new market and have resorted to selling their wares on their streets. Citi FM’s Ashanti regional correspondent, Hawa Iddrisu  said “some traders who bought these shops here at the Abingyi market have abandoned the shops and are selling on the streets and those who have been able to come here to sell are the ones who are demonstrating today, asking the KMA to bring back those who have been evicted from the race course area. According to the traders who demonstrated, those who sell outside the markets prevent customers from entering the main market to trade with them. The traders want the KMA to take action because they think it is the duty of the KMA to bring back these traders because it is affecting them,” she added. This is not the first time traders have been forced to relocate. A fire outbreak in the Kumasi Central market in February , also forced traders to move to a new market. President John Dramani Mahama subsequently announced that government is finalising arrangements with the Brazilian government to construct an ultra-modern market at the site of the Kumasi central market. He said the market, which would be a model one in the entire West African sub-region, would also serve neighboring countries, considering the centrality of Kumasi.

Source:Citifmonline.com