Kumasi traders complain of low development

Traders at the Kumasi central market in the Ashanti Region have complained about the lack of sanitary facilities within the market which makes carrying out their activities very uncomfortable.

Most traders said although they honour their tax obligations daily to the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), pay income tax to the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) regularly as well as pay store license fee monthly, they are yet to see any meaningful development and improvement in the market.

Checks done by the GRAPHIC BUSINESS indicates that the central market cannot boast of a single toilet facility meaning whenever an individual needs to use such a facility, he or she has no choice than to move out from the market to the Kejetia lorry terminal.

A cosmetics trader, Madam Akua Adoma during a field survey on the 2013 Budget and Economic Policy Statement of the government accused city authorities for non-commitment to the development of the market.

Interviewing people on their views on this year’s budget statements and their expectation in certain parts of Kumasi, the market women appealed to city authorities to provide them with sanitation facilities to improve conditions at the market.

The Institute of Financial and Economic Journalists (IFEJ) as part of its advocacy programme and with support from Star Ghana embarked on a number of field trips to some selected districts throughout the country to find out if people really care about budget statements of governments.

Findings from the survey revealed that respondents pay tax to government, to assembly or local authority and expect it to be used for development projects, while others also said they had no knowledge of what taxes they pay are used for.

Most of them also had no knowledge of the content in the budget. Meanwhile they agreed that government has not shown enough commitment politically and financially to improve agriculture, education and health facilities adding improvement in agric, education and health should be a priority.

“I have no knowledge what the taxes we pay are used for. I have been selling here for the past 15 years and I am yet to see any development. In fact, things are even getting worse,” Madam Akua Adoma complained.

Other traders told the GRAPHIC BUISNESS that coupled with the above; the market is now overcrowded, and thereby makes it difficult for the fire service for instance, to have access to operate whenever there was a fire outbreak.

“Now it is very difficult to move through the market comfortably due to overcrowding. Thoroughfares have been taken over by colleague traders while others are totally blocked,” Mrs Margaret Appenteng said.

The traders also said they are now responsible for cleaning the market including the pavements and the lanes between their stores after selling, which according to them was not the case

Consequently, during rainy season gutters within the market overflow because they are choked and have not been de-silted for years.

“Everything that needs to be done in the market nowadays is our responsibility. We have KMA authorities and officials but we do not see them taking any action to address our concerns, except probably locking and opening of gates,” a trader said.

Recently, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Subin, Mr Isaac Osei during a visit to the market after a fire outbreak called for bold action to reconstruct the Kumasi Central Market, to end the frequent fire outbreaks which results in destruction of traders’ wares.

He appealed to the KMA to link up with government to implement the decision to rebuild the market; something he said had been on the drawing board for some time now.

Unlike formerly, thousands traders come together seven days a week in trade in the central market which was moved to its current location in 1922.

Despite its congestion, it still remains the main market where people in the region shops for most their daily needs.

GB