Traders traumatized by Matchomen and Police; beg Asantehene to intervene

The Queen mother of Tomatoes at the Kumasi Central Market, Madam Afia Akoma with groaning has beseeched the Overlord of the Asante Kingdom, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, and Chiefs to kindly intervene in the mix-up between traders and the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly to allocate them a place for commerce.

The traders, despite constant resistance not to relocate from the Kumasi Central Market for phase 2 of the redevelopment project to continue unless they are provided a suitable place finally gave up and opted for a racecourse.

Madam Afia Akoma narrated that as they started working on the grounds they were apportioned by KMA, they were confronted by a man who claims the land was his and there was no way he would permit them to settle on, whether short or long term. He cautioned that they immediately halt working on the land yet they turned down his request thinking that since the relocation was made by KMA, there was nothing to worry about.

She disclosed that matchomen were later seen on the grounds, imported by the said person known as Wiafe. After a few exchanges of dialogues, they were attacked and 'well beaten' for trespassing until they could no more cry for help.

“We were given this land by KMA and all of a sudden, one man known as Wiafe who claims to be a son of Otumfuo cautioned us to move out from the place,” Tomato hemaa narrated.

“He later brought in matchomen to beat us for still hanging around the property. All of a sudden, the police also came to arrest us for trespassing. What wrong have we done?”

She told Soireenews reporter, Isaac Owusu, that as at the time they were arrested and released, no KMA authority has enquired about their welfare, meaning the Assembly has demonstrated negligence towards them therefore if the Asantehene and his Chiefs do not come to their aid, things will get out of hand.

“We have no clue as to why all this is ongoing. We see no KMA person around. They have brought us here with no guarantee. I have not taken a bath for three days now all for the sake of fighting for what to eat.

“We are pleading to Nananom to talk to KMA to provide us a place to work. We have been stranded and have nowhere to trade.

"We are stressing and everything here at racecourse is disorganised. We are pleading to the chief and our great king to intervene.

"We have acquired loans and all of a sudden our hope of working hard towards seems ending. We need to trade to be able to refund the loans.”