We are not intimidated by your Military oppression - Kumasi Markets Association dares Ashanti Regional Minister

The Kumasi Markets Association (Yam Sellers, Tomato Seller and Adwene Sellers) have sent a word of caution to the Ashanti Regional Minister, Hon. Simon Osei Mensah that no amount of Military and Police bullying can intimidate them to move out of their place at Racecourse.

They have asserted that the grounds they trade on was given to them by the KMA Mayor, Hon. Osei Assibey Antwi therefore any further instruction from the Regional Minister to evacuate them for the second-hand cloth sellers to occupy will be treated as ill-timed.

“The Kumai Metropolitan Assembly moved us to racecourse to pave way for the third and fourth phase of the Central Market redevelopment project to continue. The second-hand clothing sellers were relocated to Abinkyi.

“All of a sudden, after settlement and putting this place to make this grounds conducive, the regional minister has sent us a message to relocate for the second-hand clothing sellers to take over our settlement which is impossible. Why would Hon Simon Osei Mensah make such a decision? Our question is that are the foss sellers in any way better than anyone?

At a press conference held at the racecourse by the Kumasi Markets Association on Wednesday, September 15, 2021, the Secretary of the Association, Nana Wiafe supposedly accused the Ashanti Regional Minister of having taken a bribe from the second-hand clothing sellers hence his hostile attitude towards them. He has cautioned him to halt maltreating the old women following his appointment as the Regional Minister because it was their strength of votes which put him there.

“We have learnt the when the second-hand cloth sellers went out to meet the Regional minister, there was an enticement package for him and that is what we believe has necessitated into his actions. Our mothers have no money to attract him in such a hard time and if these rumours are true, Nana Addo should question the Regional Minister of his acts.

“President Akufo Addo is in power because of the efforts of these women and if he does not close his unfriendliness against the women, we will also face him. His act towards them is unkind.

"We need the government to be honest and put Honorable Simon Osei Mensah to order on issues of trade and If they don’t, they should not wait till elections. We are not going to be fooled by their toffee words again.

These poor women deserve better and if the NPP executives fail to address the desires of the traders, we will abandon the party.

They cautioned that nothing can move them out of their settlement even if the Military is deployed to drive them away.