IT HAS emerged that some pickpockets were responsible for Monday’s stampede at the Kumasi Central Market, which led to six people collapsing.
Reportedly, the pickpockets who are still at large blocked the narrow route that links the Central Market to Dr. Mensah area, leading to the stampede.
According to eye witnesses, the pickpockets, who usually pose as shoppers, are fond of causing human traffic in the area virtually on a daily basis.
They said the pickpockets usually take advantage of the human traffic and steal people’s mobile phones, wallets and any other valuable items they can get.
They disclosed that on Monday afternoon, the pickpockets strategically flooded the narrow route in the Central Market, resulting in a stampede. The stampede led to six people, including a pregnant mother, a student and four others collapsing instantly.
All six persons were conveyed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi where they have since been treated and discharged.
According to eye witnesses, but for the timely intervention of armed policemen who rushed to the area several people would have been robbed by the pickpockets during the stampede.
They stated that the policemen quickly moved away everybody and cleared the path for the people to move to their various destinations.
On Tuesday morning, the KMA boss, Osei Assibey-Antwi, visited the accident scene to assess what led to the stampede.
He entreated the traders and other people in the area to exercise calm; he assured them that the KMA would put in place plans to avert its recurrence in future.
FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi