Traders in Kumasi have issued a firm ultimatum to the government, demanding the immediate resumption of the stalled Kejetia Phase Two project or risk a large-scale protest by the end of May 2026.
The Combined Kumasi Central Market Traders Union says its members have endured years of hardship following their eviction from the Kumasi Central Market in 2021 to make way for the redevelopment project.
At a press conference on Tuesday, April 14, Director of Operations for the Union, Daniel Otuo Acheampong, said the prolonged delay has significantly disrupted trading activities and livelihoods.
“Traders have faced serious challenges since 2021, when they were evicted from the Kumasi Central Market,” he stated.
According to the Union, although some traders were relocated to the Kumasi Racecourse, many others are still without permanent trading spaces. They described conditions at the Racecourse as poor, citing bad roads, inadequate sanitation, poor lighting, and insecurity—factors they say have reduced customer patronage.
Traders who remain at portions of the Central Market are also grappling with flooding, sewage odour, and accumulated debris, raising concerns about public health and safety.
The Union further expressed disappointment over an earlier assurance by Vice President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang that work on the project would resume in March 2026, which has yet to materialize. They suspect funding challenges may be responsible for the delay and are calling for the immediate release of funds.
In addition, the traders are advocating for a change in project management, proposing that operations be handed over to a competent private entity to improve efficiency and security.
They also appealed to the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II to intervene and help resolve the situation.
The Union warned that failure by the government to act within the stipulated timeframe would leave them with no option but to embark on a mass protest.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
