Osei Assibey Antwi – KMA Boss
Mr OSEI ASSIBEY Antwi, the Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), has disclosed that there are about seven markets that are currently empty in the metropolis.
Sounding peeved, he lamented that the money used in constructing the markets are going down the drain because the traders refused to ply their trade there.
According to him, the markets were constructed by government with the sole intention of providing suitable places for the traders to sell their wares.
Sadly, he said, the traders have decided to abandon the markets and they are rather selling on the streets, a development which exposes them to gross danger as they can be knocked down by cars.
The Kumasi Mayor said one of the markets that are not being fully utilized by the traders in the city is the Race Course Terminal, which the assembly recently upgraded at a huge cost.
Osei Assibey Antwi stated that the assembly’s decision to relocate the traders from the roads and pavements in the city is not meant to make life difficult for them but rather to prevent situations where a trader could be knocked down by a vehicle or get involved in any other disastrous incidents.
He urged the residents to support the assembly’s activities.
The KMA Boss described as ‘false’ rumours that the assembly is secretly distributing lockable stores at the newly refurbished Kejetia Bus Terminal to some selected people.
Mr Osei Assibey said there is no iota of truth in the wild speculation therefore residents of the city, especially the traders, should treat the report with the contempt it deserves.
He announced that the validation exercise of traders, who had been registered by the KMA, would commence in a few days time, stressing that KMA would ensure transparency and fairness in the exercise.
FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi