Aggrieved market women storm KMA over 'killer tolls'

Aggrieved market women in Kumasi in the Ashanti region on Friday besieged the premises of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly demanding the reduction in market levies introduced by the KMA.

Revenue Collectors from the KMA yesterday closed down about 50 shops at the Kumasi Central market following disagreement between the market women and the city officials over the payment of the GHS 2 market toll.

The irate women who stormed the KMA gave officials a 12 hour ultimatum to re-open their shops for them or face their wrath.

They contended that increment of the levy is unjustified and affecting their business.

“Initially we were paying 50 pesewas and it was increased to GH¢1. We were okay with the increment at that rate. Recently revenue collectors came saying that the toll has been increased to GH¢2 and not everyone is affected by this new decision only those of us at a particular lane are affected by the upward adjustment, a reason why we are protesting” one of the angry traders lamented to Kasapa News.

Ultimate FM’s Isaac Bediako Justice reports that the leadership of the ruling NPP in the region had to intervene in the matter before the women left the assembly.