The Combined Kumasi Central Market Traders Union has issued a final warning to the government, demanding the release of funds and the resumption of the stalled Kejetia Phase Two project by the end of May 2026.
Failure to meet this deadline, the Union warns, will result in large-scale protests.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, 14 April 2026, the Union’s Director of Operations, Daniel Otuo Acheampong, highlighted the severe hardships traders have endured since their eviction from the Kumasi Central Market in 2021.
He stated that traders have faced relentless challenges since they were first moved to make way for the redevelopment.
While some traders were relocated to the Racecourse, the Union notes that many remain without permanent stalls.
Conditions at the relocation site are reportedly dire, characterised by dilapidated roads, inadequate lighting, substandard sanitation, and a lack of security.
These factors he lamented have led to a significant decline in customer patronage and overall business turnover.
He said the traders are currently battling frequent flooding, the stench of raw sewage, and mounting debris, all of which have sparked serious public health concerns.
The Union expressed profound disappointment over unfulfilled commitments, noting that Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang had previously assured them that work would resume in March 2026.
With that deadline having passed, the Union attributes the continued delay to funding constraints and is calling for an immediate capital injection to restart construction.
Beyond the resumption of work, the traders are demanding a complete overhaul of the market’s administration.
They are proposing that market operations be handed over to a competent private entity to ensure efficiency and heightened security. Furthermore, they have formally appealed to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, to intervene in the impasse.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
