Asanteman’s overlord; Otumfuo Osei Tutu II at the cutting of sod for the Phase II of the redevelopment project of the Kumasi Central Market has charged authorities handing the stores and stalls allocation to be equitable and transparent in their dealings with the traders.
The occasion which also saw the unveiling of the statue in honour of Otumfuo saw the allocation of completed stalls under the Phase I of the Kejetia Market Project to original operators or traders.
Otumfuo reckoned the initial operating traders must have stalls while also having a stake in the running of the market. In 2014, traders numbering over 5000 were compelled to vacate the old Kejetia Market for the redevelopment of the market under the Phase I project which was handed to the state in November 2018.
Whiles rumours swirled that the city’s authorities and their political associates intend allocating half of the stalls to party loyalists, the Asantehene forbade any such act stressing: “Exempt politics out of this. Those original 5,000 Kejetia trades must be brought back as soon as possible. If we are not able to bring them back, this sod cutting with the President is meaningless.”
“What’s relevant to me is the over 5000 traders that were sacked from Kejetia. If they are given the stalls I don’t care about what you will do with the remaining”, he added. The Asantehene said he will not sit and watch for his people to say he and Akufo -Addo deceived Asanteman.
City authorities have been tasked by the Asantehene to allocate the stalls to the initial traders within three months. In session for the sod cutting for the Phase II was President Akufo-Addo and ministers of state.
By Joe Marfo/ Kumasi
