Ama Kumi meets with market queens at Nana Bosoma market
The decongestion exercise, which is being undertaken by some metropolitan assemblies in the country, has finally hit the Sunyani Municipality, with soldiers from Liberation Barracks supporting the Assembly in the exercise.
A taskforce comprising police officers, fire service personnel, members of the assembly and other stakeholders set up by the assembly prior to Christmas to do the same job failed.
The hawkers have vacated the streets due to the presence of military men on the streets of the Sunyani Municipality.
“The Sunyani Assembly brought in the soldiers to make it easy to clear the hawkers,” according to the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Ama Kumi Richardson.
The soldiers patrolled the streets of Sunyani last Wednesday and warned the hawkers on the streets not to come and sell on the shoulders of the road from yesterday.
Recalcitrant taxi drivers who pick passengers at unauthorized places in the city centre were equally warned not to do so.
The residents were happy with the exercise which had led to the free movement of vehicles and people.
Some shop owners and commuters told DAILY GUIDE that they were happy with the presence of the soldiers and but said it should not be a nine-day wonder.
Some taxi drivers, who were not happy with the move, said the soldiers put fear in them by hitting their bonnets.
In order to prevent confrontation with market women on some streets leading to the Sunyani Bosoma Market, the MCE Dr Ama Kumi Richarson and Sunyani queen mother, Nana Yaa Nyamaa, held discussions with all the market queens and asked them to urge their members not to sell on streets or face the wrath of the soldiers.
According to her, a popular road leading to the market called Masommasom Road has been invaded by the hawkers who cause vehicular congestion in the area.
The market queen mother, Nana Boa Boahemaa, pleaded with assembly to construct a place of convenience to ease their plight.
She also called for more security men to guard the market.
From Daniel Y Dayee, Sunyani
danielyaodayee@yahoo.com