Some traders in the Ashanti Region’s race course market have announced plans to campaign against the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2024 general election if the government fails to complete phase two of the Kejetia Market.
For months, the project has stalled due to the renegotiation of a loan agreement following the country’s decision to opt for a financial bailout from the International Monetary Fund.
The combined Kumasi Central Market Traders Union have been complaining about difficulties in conducting business at their current location, racecourse market.
The government’s failure to meet completion targets dismayed the traders, the majority of whom had observed a decline in trade.
Speaking to JoyNews’ Nana Yaw Gyimah, the secretary of the Kumasi Central Market Traders Union, Emelia Kwofie Asare, said “you can see them for yourselves, the muddy situation in which these women live. It was only last night that it rained. Prior to last night, you would have come to see the whole place filled with dust, and imagine what it does to the things that we have to sell here.”
“It is a whole lot; we would not want to go over it. But our message has remained the same. We came the first time a year ago with an appeal. This time, we are not appealing. We are demanding that it be done for us. It is our right, and we demand it.”
According to her, because the Ashanti Region is a stronghold of the NPP, they expected the development of the Kejetia market to be fast tracked, but they were disappointed.
Madam Asare said they will seek the intervention of Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II to lead a fundraising campaign to help complete the abandoned project.
“We are telling the Otumfuo we are appealing to him to rise and restore the Central Market. Also, I am sending an appeal and a thank-you message to the former President, John Mahama. He was the one who constructed the Kejetia edifice. It has become something of prominence in the Ashanti Region.
“If he has any support for us, then he should do it again. We want him to come to our help; he should speak in our favour, and even with this, we are also calling on the former Minister of Trade; Alan Kyerematen.
“We know that you are in support of Ashanti. You are in support of traders. This is the time that we need you to come to our aid. We know and believe that the fact that he is not the trade minister will not stop him from working for us.”
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