Traders loose interest in New race course market after heavy investment

The New Race Course Market project is complete and leaders have begun handing out keys to shop owners to trade yet disappointment has overshadowed trading activities following wholesome complaints.

The challenging roads from Kejetia to the new market is the latest discomfort and according to sellers, it threatens their capital since the remote roads is an interruption to the buyers.

They have cautioned the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly Mayor, Hon Osei Assibey Antwi and the Ashanti Regional Minister, Hon Simon Osei Mensah that if the situation is not resolved, they will not step foot on the grounds thereby making the Central Market redevelopment demanding.

“We were assured by the Regional Minister and the KMA Mayor that by the end of the project, the road leading to the grounds will be put in a better shape yet nothing has been seen,” the Chairman of the Race Course Project, Mr Kwabena Fosu (MK) told.

“The promises are becoming vain and it’s not a good sign from our leaders. It’s been four months since we started the racecourse project and the kilometres from Kejetia to the racecourse is very limited. This place was set up by traders’ monies and all the leaders are to do is put up better roads.

"This is their responsibility to help us, we cannot beg all time when they know their duties towards us. If they fail to put up the roads, central market traders will not move out because many are disappointed.

“The regional minister should act fast and stop the vain promises.”

Mr Kwabena Fosu updated that the Deputy Local Government Minister, Hon. Collins Ntim, MP for Bantama, Hon. Francis Asenso Boakye amongst other leadership has visited the place several times to assure them of the construction of the road but nothing has been done about it. He also added that traders were assured in a meeting that the road has been awarded to CONTRACTA Constructions UK Limited but it has been months now and nothing has been done.

The leadership has therefore sent a word of caution out that if the authorities do not attend to their plea, they will never open the market for business.

The Chairman Utensils and Plastic Sellers Association, Hon. Moses Kyei asserted that the road network retards consumer interest due to the mister of dust on their products diminishing its attractiveness for sale. He has therefore pleaded to authorities to help them establish a friendly selling spot to be able to redeem the money they have invested in acquiring the place.

“We respect this present government hence our decision not to object our movement from Kejetia because we wanted peace. We are in challenging times and we plead for the government to make our stay here buzzing.

“Our challenge is mostly about our roads. on behalf of my colleagues, we are pleading to the government to get the roads active for us because as I am speaking with you, lots of people have started trading and monies have been borrowed to ascertain this place and so if we do not put up a friendly environment to attract buyers, acquiring this place will be of no use.”