Traders operating along the middle lane of the Kejetia Market in Kumasi have demanded an immediate refund of monies paid to market authorities following their eviction from the area, describing the move as unfair, sudden and financially devastating.
The aggrieved traders say they were officially allocated the middle lane space and paid required fees and daily tolls to operate there, only to be asked to vacate the area without prior notice or compensation. According to them, the eviction has disrupted their businesses and cut off their main source of livelihood.
Speaking to the media, some traders accused market managers and city authorities of acting arbitrarily and failing to communicate clearly before carrying out the eviction exercise. They insist that if they are no longer permitted to trade at the middle lane, all monies collected from them must be refunded in full.
“We paid for these spaces and operated here with the knowledge of the authorities. You cannot just wake up and drive us away without returning our money,” one trader lamented.
The traders further revealed that several of them had taken loans to secure goods and pay for space, and the eviction has left them struggling to repay creditors. Others complained that alternative spaces offered, if any, are poorly located and unsuitable for business.
They are therefore calling on the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) and the Kejetia Market management to urgently intervene, either by reinstating them to their original trading spots or refunding all fees and tolls collected.
Meanwhile, efforts to get an official response from market authorities have so far proven unsuccessful. The traders warn that failure to address their concerns could lead to protests and further disruptions at the busy commercial hub.
