The Combined Kumasi Central Market Unions are calling on the government to recompense the promised compensation package due them after their eviction to make way for the phase two of the Kejetia Redevelopment Project.
President Akufo-Addo cut sod on May 2, 2019 for construction works to begin on the redevelopment project, with a 248 million Euro facility from the UK Export Finance.
According to the traders, they were forced by the then NPP administration to absorb costs involving their evacuation and relocation to new trading centres after assurances to reimburse.
But they argue successive leaders at the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly have failed to honor the promise, putting the affected traders under untoward hardship.
The traders are demanding insights from former Chief Executives of KMA, Osei Assibey Antwi and Samuel Pyne, regarding the $4 million compensation package that was promised following their eviction from the Kumasi Central Market.
According to the unions, their investigations suggest that the funds have been disbursed, yet the traders have not received any money.
They suspect the money may have been misappropriated and are calling for accountability.
Deputy Operations of the Union, Samuel Obeng, pleaded with the current administration to address the matter and pay the amount due them.
“We’re pleading with the NDC government to compensate us. The assembly is aware of the issue and must work to pay us the monies we used in relocating,” he told Luv Business in an interview.
Decongestion
Nearly five years after the relocation of traders from the Kumasi Central Market to the Racecourse Market for the commencement of Phase Two of the Kejetia Redevelopment Project, concerns are mounting over the city’s failure to enforce full decongestion of the central business district.
The unions and the Great Asanteman Youth Union have jointly appealed to the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene, and the Mayor of Kumasi, Richard Agyemang Boadi, to urgently intervene by removing traders who continue to occupy pavements and roadsides within central Kumasi.
According to the two unions, the Racecourse Market currently houses numerous vacant stalls, including lockable stores and shared sheds, with a capacity to accommodate about 10,000 traders.
They argue that relocating street traders to the market would not only decongest the city but also enhance trading conditions.
Improving Racecourse Market
The traders are also concerned by the poor road network leading to the Racecourse Market, describing it as dusty and unmotorable, particularly during the rainy season.
The situation, the traders believe, is discouraging customers from patronizing them, forcing many traders to return to unauthorized spaces around Kejetia, Adum, and Dr. Mensah to ply their trade.
The unions also accused city authorities of failing to address basic infrastructure needs at the Racecourse Market.
“If these issues are resolved, we may have no option but to reoccupy the streets alongside our colleagues,” they said.
Commencing Phase 3 of Kejetia Redevelopment
The unions are urging the government and city authorities to expedite the commencement of Phase Three of the Kejetia Redevelopment Project and improve infrastructure at the Racecourse Market.
They believe it would ensure a safer, cleaner, and more efficient trading environment in Kumasi.
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