Kumasi: Marking a decade of loss and hardship, the Kejetia Petty Traders Association recently held a solemn memorial service for over 100 of its members who have died reportedly due to the distressing and unregulated conditions they face while trying to earn a living. The event, a poignant reminder of the human cost of the situation, also served as a desperate plea for intervention and fair allocation of space in phase two of the Kejetia Redevelopment Project.
According to Ghana News Agency, the memorial, attended by traders, grieving families, and association leaders, highlighted the devastating plight of the remaining traders, many of whom still operate under precarious circumstances. Mr. Emmanuel Kwarteng, Chairman of the Kejetia Petty Traders Association, speaking to the media, revealed that the association's membership had reduced from 2,283 to a mere 793, with the difficult socio-economic conditions driving many to their deaths.
Of the current 793 members, Mr. Kwarteng lamented that only 160 had been allocated permanent trading spaces in the redeveloped Kejetia Market, leaving 632 members struggling to survive in unsafe and unsanitary locations-exposed on roadsides, beneath temporary shelters, and directly under the scorching sun and heavy rains. "This frustration, the hardship, and lack of a proper place to trade have sadly contributed to the deaths of over 100 of our members over the years. It is very painful and heartbreaking," he stated.
Mr. Kwarteng emphasized the traders' consistent contribution to the revenue mobilization of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), noting their daily ticket payments of GHS3 per member, significantly bolster the Assembly's revenue. He argued that loyalty and contribution should not be overlooked. "We have never defaulted in paying the KMA trading tickets. We deserve better," Kwarteng implored and appealed to President John Dramani Mahama, the Ashanti Regional Minister Dr. Frank Amoakohene, and Kumasi Mayor, Mr. Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi, to intervene on behalf of the aggrieved traders.
Mr. Kwarteng reiterated that the association was not seeking special favors, only a fair opportunity for its members to trade safely and with dignity. "We have suffered enough. We have buried too many of our members. We are pleading with the government and city authorities to come to our aid now," he concluded, his voice filled with urgency and despair.
Meanwhile, the core of the traders' plea is for consideration in the Kejetia Redevelopment Phase Two Project. The association's leadership is urging authorities to acknowledge their sacrifices and the tragic loss of life by ensuring their members are not excluded from the allocation of new stores. Speaking with deep emotions, some of these traders recounted the daily risks and indignities they endure, trading in hazardous environments vulnerable to accidents and the elements. They asserted that these brutal conditions have directly contributed to the deaths the association is now mourning.
They have therefore made a heartfelt appeal for fairness, a safe and dignified place to conduct their businesses to enable them to earn an honest living without jeopardizing their lives. The traders also demanded transparency in the shop allocation process for Phase Two, emphasizing that those who have faithfully supported the KMA through consistent ticket payments should be prioritized. The fate of these Kejetia traders hangs in the balance, awaiting the intervention of authorities to honor their contributions and prevent further loss of life.
