Demo hits local government Minister

Speculations that the Tafo Market which is currently under construction was about to be commissioned on Tuesday afternoon led to a spontaneous demonstration by traders in the hitherto peaceful area.

Local Government Minister, Collins Dauda traveled to the site to inspect the project, but unknown to him rumours spread that he was about to inaugurate the market.

The angry traders started singing war songs to protest against the decision even before the minister and his entourage, including Ashanti Regional Minister, John Alexander Ackon could alight from their cars.

Nana Afia Serwah, the Queenmother of Tafo Market Traders, who led the demonstrators, disclosed that the market was too small to accommodate the traders and therefore called for its expansion.

The chief of Tafo, Nana Agyen Frimpong, who heard about the reports, led his elders to the market to assess the situation.

Collins Dauda said he traveled to the site to assess the level of work and also ascertain the challenges of the traders.

He stated that the concerns of the traders had been noted, stressing that he would make sure that all traders that were ejected from the place before construction started are given stores and sheds in the new market.

Collins Dauda also said he had ordered contractors working on three ongoing market projects at Tafo, Atonsu and Asawase to construct additional stores so that every trader would get a store upon completion to ensure peace.

The minister visited the Oti Engineered Landfill Site, the Atonsu, Asawase and Tafo markets, which are being constructed with funds from the Alliance Franciese de Developments (AFD) from France.

He said he was highly impressed with the professional work at the Tafo Market by the Acheamfuor Group of Companies owned by Dr. Kwabena Baah and Atonsu Market by De-Geons Investment, owned by George Asamoah.

Collins Dauda stressed the need for the city authorities to collaborate with the contractors and traditional leaders to ensure that more lands are made available to construct stores to accommodate many traders.

The minister, who was accompanied by his deputy Emmanuel Agyekum, Michael B. Ataogye, Metro Coordinating Director, Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) and Francis Dodovi, called for the construction of police posts and crèche in the three markets.