Race course traders cry over poor road network and lighting system
According to traders, the step by Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly was in the right direction despite their misunderstandings yet there are a few hitches that need to be fixed to bring the former days at Central market to live.
soireenews 
A section of traders at Kumasi racecourse market have spoken contentment of their new grounds saying “the place is good for business” yet still, they have pleaded on the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly to provide them with a lorry station so to enable continuity of business with their customers.
The women have further appealed that darkness covers key areas of the market which could buzz robbers to attack them at night hence the need for the Assembly to install street lights at abandoned sites to brighten up the environment during late hours.
The Kumasi City Markets Traders Union cautioned the Ashanti Regional Minister, Honorable Simon Osei Mensah and the Kumasi Metropolitan boss, Honorable Osei Assibey Antwi on their decision regarding the evacuation of traders at the Kejetia Central Market.
According to them, the clearing notice by the Assembly from the grounds to pave way for the construction of the market was limited as they complained of the Assembly’s failure to provide them with a place to relocate. The KMA Mayor earlier communicated that the Nana Afia Kobi Market at Abinkyi and Racecourse are two separate grounds for the marketers yet criticisms of the none preparedness of the sites were also not left out.
Soireenews visited the racecourse market on Thursday, March 18, 2021, to speak with traders on their assessment of the grounds and how they are managing business.
According to them, the step by the KMA was in the right direction despite their misunderstandings yet there are a few hitches that need to be fixed to bring the former days at Central market to live.
“The road is our challenge now and customers do complain about transportation a lot,” Secretary of Kumasi Ashaiman traders, Felicia Lumor aka Sister said.
“Market is very slow and most of the complaints we receive is the lack of cars to the market. If a station is established here, we believe trade will be very effective,” she added.
The ground has been brightened up with lights to help stakeholders be able to extend their time through late nights but sellers have raised concerns that there are areas that are lacking brightness and could be taken advantage of by thieves to attack traders therefore the Assembly must do well to glow every corner to dissolve frights.
“KMA have already installed street lights at some places but majority of the areas are dark and it is sometimes a threat to our work. We believe things will get better with time since this is our first week here,” Esther Boakye told.
Madam Abena Boatemaa recounted that during the time of the evacuation that they didn’t have a clue at the doings of Honourable Osei Assibey Bonsu and the KMA towards traders yet their settlement at the market is evident that with time, everything will fall in place if the challenges are attended to which she believes it will.
She addressed that apart from the roads and light, all other encounters will happen in a satisfactory way so traders to exercise patience and trust in God for that.
