Kumasi yam sellers fight Regional Minister over ‘impromptu’ eviction
Yam sellers at the Kumasi Central Market today protested against Ashanti Regional Minister Simon Osei Mensah who is attempting to evict them to pave the way for major construction works.
The traders say they have not been allocated an alternative marketplace to relocate and for that reason, will not move.
The traders have been given up to Sunday by the Minister to move from the market to other market squares allocated to them by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly so that the Kejetia-Central Market redevelopment project can continue.
According to them president Akuffo Addo and the Ashanti Regional Minister Simon Osei Mensah have performed abysmally in terms of managing issues relating to trading in the Ashanti Region
Their disappointment follows a move by the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council to relocate them from their current place to pave way for the second phase of the Kejetia–Central Market Redevelopment project.
Addressing the media on Thursday September 9, 2021, monitored by OTEC News Kwame Agyenim Boateng, the leader of the group who doubles as Asantehemaa’s representative at Yam Sellers Line in the market Nana Foriwaa said they are being forced out of the market without any proper place to go to.
She added that they were not given any prior notice by the authorities and only wake up to find out that a fence had been built around the market with iron sheets in an attempt to stop them from using the facility.
Nana Foriwaa disclosed that all attempt to get authorities in the Region to get them a befitting places to trade have proven futile.
She added that their last attempt ended in tears as the Ashanti Region minister Simon Osei Mensah snubbed them during a meeting on issues relating to the market.
The Ashanti Regional Minister Simon Osei Mensah in a press release on September 5, 2021, gave traders at the zone 3 to 4 of the Kumasi Central Market up till midnight of September 12 to relocate from their present location.
But the traders have vowed not to move an inch untill they are given a place to stay.
They have appealed to the Asantehene Otumfour Osei Tutu II to as a matter of urgency come to thier aid.
Source: Ghana/otecfmghana.com/Jocob Agyenim Boateng
