Traders associations in Kumasi have voiced their frustration and issued a stern warning to the New Patriotic Party (NPP), expressing dissatisfaction over the government’s failure to complete several unfinished market projects in the Ashanti Region. Their stance signals potential consequences for the ruling party in the upcoming 2024 general election if the markets remain incomplete, underscoring the critical importance of these markets to the local economy.
Representatives from various trader groups, including the Second-hand Cloth Sellers Association, Santasi Traders Union, Suame Magazine Workers Union, Mamponteng Traders Association, Central Market Traders Association, and Kumasi Lotto Sellers Association, came together to articulate their concerns in a joint statement released on Monday, May 6th.
The traders’ grievances center on the government’s inability to finalize vital market infrastructures, which they deem essential for their livelihoods and the economic prosperity of the region. The uncompleted market projects represent a significant setback for traders, hindering their ability to conduct business effectively and impacting the local economy.
In a show of determination, the trader associations have threatened to potentially campaign against the NPP in the 2024 general election if the government fails to address their demands and complete the abandoned markets promptly. Additionally, they have warned of a possible five-day protest if their concerns are not met, indicating a willingness to escalate their response to the situation.
Seeking intervention from respected local leaders, the trader associations have reached out to Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and Ashanti Queen Mother Nana Konadu Yiadom. They hope that the influential figures can exert pressure on the government to prioritize the completion of the unfinished market projects, emphasizing the urgency of the matter.
Furthermore, the traders have demanded the removal of barricades surrounding the Kejetia Second Phase project. They assert that failure to take down these barricades may prompt them to take matters into their own hands, underscoring the depth of their frustration and their determination to see tangible progress on the ground.
The escalating tensions between Kumasi traders and the government highlight the pressing need for swift action to address the longstanding grievances regarding unfinished market projects. As the deadline for action looms, the NPP faces mounting pressure to deliver on its promises and restore confidence among traders in Kumasi, the party’s electoral stronghold.
Good morning esteemed members of the media,
We, the entirety of traders in the Kumasi and its environs, including the Second-hand Cloth Sellers Association, Santasi Traders Union, Suame Magazine Workers Union, Mamponteng Traders Association, Central Market Traders Association, Kumasi Lotto Sellers Association, have jointly decided to initiate a campaign against the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the upcoming 2024 general election if the government fails to complete all the abandoned markets in the Ashanti Region, including the much-awaited Phase Two of the Kejetia Market.
Over the past one year, six months, progress on these projects has come to a halt due to the renegotiation of a loan agreement following the country’s decision to opt for a financial bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) while other markets including Mamponteng market, Krofrom market and Santasi market has been abandoned since former President Kufuor era.
Presently, we have four major markets left abandoned by the NPP government:
1. Krofrom Market
2. Mamponteng Market
3. Santasi Market
4. Phase Two of the Kejetia Market.
We, the aforementioned traders’ unions within the Ashanti Region, have continuously voiced our concerns regarding the challenges we face in conducting business at our current locations.
The government’s failure to meet completion targets has left us disheartened and frustrated. We fail to comprehend why a project would be initiated only to be abandoned, leaving our fellow traders to sell their goods in unsuitable conditions.
Our livelihoods are greatly affected by adverse weather conditions; each rainfall turns our marketplaces into muddy quagmires, while the scorching sun blankets the area in dust, making it difficult for us to operate effectively.
The Ashanti Region, a stronghold of the NPP, rightfully expects swift development, especially in Kumasi. However, the lack of progress on these crucial projects has left us deeply disappointed.
We, the aforementioned traders’ union, earnestly appeal to His Majesty, Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, once more to intervene on our behalf.
We humbly implore Asantehene to lend his support and influence towards the restoration and completion of all abandoned markets in the region.
Furthermore, we extend our plea to the Ashanti Queen Mother, Nana Konadu Yiadom, who holds jurisdiction over all markets in the Ashanti Kingdom.
We believe that her background as a former trader will foster a deeper understanding of our plight and inspire her to champion our cause.
If our demand did not yield any result, we the aforementioned traders together with Asanteman Youth Union will joined the five days demonstration by our brothers and sisters of Central Market and second hand cloth sellers to demonstrate against the government.
We on this press release urging the contracta company to remove all the barricades from the Kejetia second phase projects before we do it by ourselves because we will not think twice to take it off to do our businesses there if our demand did not heard.
Thank you, Asanteman.
Thank you, Ghana.
Together, let us strive for a better future for all traders and citizens alike.
Source: GhanaFeed.Com
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