Kontompo Market traders in the Asokore Mampong Municipal of the Ashanti Region have beseeched government to help them recover their jobs by bulk purchasing their foodstuffs whenever there is the need for food distribution to the vulnerable.

According to the marketers, government failure to acquire locally grown agricultural produce like yam, known to be the major foodstuff sold at Kontompo market during the three weeks lockdown has brought about a putrefaction of their produce which has affected their capital base. They have therefore called on government to assist them financially to restore their liquidated investment.

“During the lockdown, people couldn’t come to the market to buy stuffs. Already, we had tubers of yam arrive from the north to boost our trade and due to that, majority of these tubers perished because of no patronage.

“We deal in perishable goods and majority of traders have lost huge amount of tubers due to the lockdown,” Abdul Musah, a trader added.

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Nana Addo Dankwah Akuffo Addo as part of measures to restrain the COVID-19 virus declared a partial lockdown in the Greater Accra, Greater Kumasi, Kasoa and Tema. His objective was to protect households by providing food for four hundred thousand (400,000) individuals and homes. A greater percentage of food shared to individuals and households were non-perishable provisions such as rice ad Gari.

Speaking to Abdul Musah, also the Unit Committee Leader of the market, he disclosed that yam sellers were not tensed with regard to the initiation of the lockdown because they were certain that government and non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) would patronize in purchasing their foodstuffs for sharing.

He further addressed that although consumers are gradually turning in numbers yet such is a time traders have lost huge capital within the 21 days lockdown period and it will be very tough for them to make up for the losses.

“We thought in mind that the government and non-governmental organizations will come to our aid and acquire much of the tubers for distribution but none happened. They were more interested in the non-perishable goods, which has cost us a lot.

“Loans taken from banks to support the trade have winded up. How do we settle these debts? Government should come to our aid else, things will be very tough for us in the coming days,” he added.

Hajia Comfort, a trader enlightened that the Ministry of Food and Agriculture should have considered the challenges delicate traders would go through during the lockdown before investing governments finances in only the non-perishable goods to the vulnerable. She clarified that the harm has already been caused and the best solution is for the country authorities to provide them funds to boost their capital.

“Just look around you. Yams are here in abundance yet no one is buying because of the lock down. Our capital has been drained and if government does not come to our aid, trade will be unberable Kontompo traders.

Farmers have lost their jobs and majority of sellers have stopped coming.” she added.

The Kontompo market is known to be one of the dedicated yam market in the capital of the Ashanti Region with Yam produce imported from Zabzugu, Tatale, Yendi, Bimbila and a host of agri-business environment to satisfy consumers.