Kejetia traders threaten to protest naked

Kejetia traders have threatened to strip naked for a protest on Wednesday, 25th March, against Kumasi Mayor Kojo Bonsu’s decision to relocate traders while the market is revamped.
Public Relations Officer of the Kejetia Traders Association, Andrews Kwofie, explained on Kessben Television’s morning show Ade3akye Abia that they fear the planned relocation of the market would make them lose their spots at the business centres and their only source of livelihood would suffer immensely.
He added that the move may plunge their families into hardship, so they will demonstrate against it. Mr Kwofie and described the mayor’s actions as “selfish”.
“Kojo Bonsu should go and reconstruct Central Market and leave Kejetia alone. We know Kejetia was not part of the original construction plan, so go and complete it. Kojo Bonsu cannot use five years to reconstruct Kejetia,” the PRO added.
An amount of $298 million is expected to be spent on the reconstruction of the Kumasi Central Market. The project would be in three phases, starting with the Kejetia bus terminal, at a cost of $198 million.
The second and the third phases, valued at $100 million, would center on works at the main Kumasi Central Market.
The sod would be cut on March 31, 2015 for the first phase to begin. This phase would last for 24 to 36 months.
A Brazilian firm, Contracta, has been sole sourced for the contract.
The Mayor and three New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament and nine other stakeholders are in Brazil on a tour of markets in the South American country.
By Bliss Ben Elom