The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA Mayor) Hon. Osei Assibey Antwi has called for a compulsory COVID-19 blood screening on petty traders at Adum PZ in the capital of the Ashanti Region after they flouted the social distancing measure put in place by government.

According to him majority of traders at Adum who are mostly engaged in the selling of watches, mobile phones and accessories normally trek to neighboring countries to acquire their products and so such “high-risk areas” need effective implementation of the rules to prevent any spread of COVID-19.

“This is a high risk zone and we were very surprise to see them flouting the social distancing protocol. We were not happy at all so we closed down the place and spoke to the president of petty traders and assistant. They were really disappointed at the attitude of their people.

“We have come to a conclusion that any petty trader who falls under the KMA in this area must undergo a compulsory blood test before the leadership can alert us to know how we can open this place for the social distancing rule to be implemented,” he said.

The KMA boss and the Metropolitan Security Council (METSEC) toured some parts of Kumasi under the radar of the KMA on Thursday, April 23, 2020 where trade is operative to ensure that the mandate of social distancing and wearing of masks is fully in force.

On arriving at the Adum PZ, almost the 300 petty traders occupying the grounds had ignored the social distancing mandate. This led to the closure of the place and a directive of compulsory blood testing was settled among them before business resumes under the permission of Hon. Osei Assibey Antwi.

He addressed that it is the duty of the Assembly to also enforce the wearing of mask in the Metropolis especially among sellers, street vendors and consumers.

Hon. Assibey expressed that the social distancing and mask wearing implementation will aid inhabitants from contracting and spreading the virus in the Region. The media was also directed to help spread the information on wearing mask to prevent individuals from violating the rules.

READ ALSO:

“Social distancing is the key to fight this virus" - Dr. Emmanuel Tenkorang

“We (KMA) are working to make sure that traders and buyers wear the mask as a measure to protect ourselves from spreading the coronavirus. We are not in normal times whereby we will sit and watch individuals take their own decisions regarding their health this time. When this happens, we are endangering lives.

The Chairman of the Unity Petty Traders Association, Kwabena Frimpong commended the decision of the Mayor and made known of his involvement to ensure that his members undergo the compulsory testing to get business running again.

“This decision is for the best of Ghana and the welfare of traders. We will talk to our people to undergo the screening in order to get businesses running again.

“This is not about evacuation without reason. I am assuring them that when the screening is done, we will come with a better solution to make activities here better,” he said.