Source: newsthemegh.com
The Kumasi Central Market rehabilitation project has been shelved by the government of the New Patriotic Party, which has angered the Combined Central Market Traders Union.
The union organized a press conference on Wednesday, January 10, 2024, where the traders expressed their dissatisfaction and called for the phase two project’s completion.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration started the project in 2021, but it hasn’t made much headway, putting traders in a risky scenario.
After being moved to the Racecourse Market so that the market could be rebuilt, traders are now there, having to deal with unanticipated difficulties and trying to make ends meet.
The project, which was supposed to be completed quickly, has taken a terrible turn because the contractor has been leaving the site since January 2023.
The traders have not received a response despite multiple requests to government representatives, such as Hon. Simon Osei Mensah, the regional minister for Ashanti, and Hon. Samuel Pyne, the chief executive officer of Kumasi.
Consequently, there is a growing perception that their livelihoods and business capital were deliberately jeopardized when they were shifted by the government to a less frequented market.
The traders appeal to the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, who is well-known for his steadfast support of community development, for help.
The merchants want to make money under his direction to finish the market project themselves, taking inspiration from his successful participation in the “Heal Komfo Anokye” project.
The businessmen thank Hon. Alan Kwadwo Kyeremateng, the former Minister of Trade and Industry, and ask him to assist them in requesting Otumfuo Osei Tutu II’s authorization for their effort.
Even after quitting the NPP, Mr. Kyeremateng’s support is still regarded as a valuable resource for motivating traders and gaining wider support.
The traders invite everyone, including political parties and individuals, to support this cause once Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II assumes leadership.
A severe warning is also sent to NPP delegates in the area, threatening to remove sitting MPs if they do not address the issues surrounding abandoned development projects in addition to the Kumasi Central Market project.
The merchants’ message is clear as they get ready for the December 7, 2024, general elections and the parliamentary primaries: they want the government to take action, be held accountable, and keep its word.