Kumasi central market traders unhappy over stalled project

…plead with Asantehene to intervene

Members of the Combined Kumasi Central Market Traders Association have taken a swipe at government over the abandonment of Kumasi Central Market Redevelopment Project phase II a year ago.

They describe as “lies” information given to them when the project stalled last year – that the project has gotten to a stage where metals were being installed among other things; but with time that has proved not to be the case.

“When we saw the project stalling last year in January, we spoke about it and we were lied to. They told us initially that they were doing metal works, and with time we have all come to know how the lies have been exposed. We are not going to ask again what has been happening; what we are saying is that we are demanding that it is done for us. We have also thought about what we are going to do.”

The traders insist that their concerns are valid, because they are not just stakeholders but will be beneficiaries of the market edifice when completed for commercial use.

The traders were relocated from the market for its reconstruction in 2022; but unfortunately, as of January 2023 the contractor on the project left the site and has since not resumed work.

Secretary for the Combined Central Market Traders Association, Emelia Coffie, speaking to journalists during a press conference at the Racecourse Market in Kumasi, mentioned that several efforts by the association to push for government to resolve whatever concerns the contractor has in order to ensure their return to the site have yielded no result.

“We have channeled our concerns to not only the Chief Executive Officer of Kumasi, Samuel Pyne, but also the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah, and Members of Parliament in the region to intervene – but to no avail.

“It seems government does not prioritise our concerns and plight, because during the relocation exercise we were made to believe we would be relocated back to the market very soon to enjoy better conditions of trading – but it is becoming a nightmare,” she said.

Disappointment

The traders therefore expressed disappointment with government for not being able to fulfil its promises to complete the project on time, as well as abandoning it while the traders suffered and struggled to sustain their business.

They further suggested that the lack of will on the part of government to complete the project only means government wants their businesses to collapse, because activities at Racecourse – where they were moved to – is dull compared to the Central Market. This, according to them, has made most of them lose their startup capital.

Appeal to Asantehene

The traders further appealed to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, to take up the mantle and assist them in the same manner he is currently doing for the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital on the ‘Heal Komfo Anokye Project’ – whereby funds are being raised to facilitate construction work at the hospital.

“We know that our king has done it before, and we believe that when he leads such an event, we the traders are ready and willing to contribute toward completion of the project.

“We are also appealing to all political parties and individuals to come and contribute when Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II intervenes and leads us to generate revenue for the completion of the Kumasi Central Market Redevelopment project – which has been abandoned by government,” Ms. Coffie emphasised.

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