Kumasi Fos Sellers' resist KMA's demolition of Railway structures

The Kumasi second-hand Clothing sellers popularly known as 'Fos Sellers' slammed the Ashanti Regional Minister, Honourable Simon Osei Mensah, and the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly Mayor, Honorable Osei Assibey Antwi for their preferential treatment among their fellow traders.

Demolished structures

The Association has also cautioned the New Patriotic Party leadership in the Region to hastily resolve the relocation challenges they are going through else the decision would affect them in the 2024 elections.

Soireenews reported on Friday, March 19, 2021, that hundreds of traders who were affected by the evacuation exercise at the Kumasi Central Market by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly have decided to vehemently adopt the railways as their new centre of trade following the lack of allocation for most traders.

Reports revealed that Policemen stormed the grounds on Friday to destroy established structures at the unauthorised grounds' yet Foss traders feel they have not been treated fairly as a section of their counterparts are left unharmed and still marketing.

The Public Relations Officer of the Association, Michael Amponsah narrated that, almost 3000 second-hand clothing sellers were moved from Central Market to the Nana Afia Kobi Market at Abinkyi with limited space. He explained that only 750 people could be accommodated in the pavilion and an open space with the rest still wandering until they were told that some of their business counterparts have settled at railways under the permission of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly.

Railways

Mr. Michael Amponsah told that they took the opportunity and after observation, decided to make settlement on the grounds hitherto, Policemen were deployed to stop them from trading leaving their colleagues.

“Within a pavilion at Abinkyi, 350 people were accommodated and an open space housed 400 traders,” Mr. Amponsah told soiree news.

“Our number was almost 3,000 and that means the majority still had nowhere to stay so we informed KMA and nothing was done. We were then told that some of the people have taken the lead at railways and are selling comfortably and so we took a step to observe the truth of the matter.

“When we visited the grounds, we realised the information was true and that majority of our members could be accommodated there.

Victim of the demolition

“We built structures to start sales yet KMA sent the police to evacuate and destroy our items leaving the others to continue selling.”

He advised that political leaders should be careful with their actions and put an end to the challenge else it could affect them in the 2024 elections.

One of the victims told Soireenews that the Foss sellers at the railways have won the customers of those who were moved to Abinkyi due to the distance and so if the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly does nothing about the situation, the party must prepare to go opposition, with the majority of the traders have lost interest in the New Patriotic Party.