Adum PZ Blulight Fire: Traders express concern over Government-led market rebuilding, demand to self-build their market
Traders affected by the recent fire demolitions at the Adum PZ BlueLight market in Kumasi have raised serious concerns regarding the government’s involvement in rebuilding the market.
Speaking in an interview with Kessben FM, the Interim Chairman of the traders, Owusu Gwuma made it clear that they were open to taking matters into their own hands, with many stating that they feared a prolonged construction process under government oversight that might take years to complete.
The Interim Chairman of the traders explained that the primary concern among the affected traders is the long timeline for completion if the government is solely responsible for rebuilding the market. “They are afraid that if the government takes over the rebuilding process, it could take up to 15 years for the project to be completed, and we might never even get our shops back,” the chairman expressed during the radio interview.
The traders argue that the bureaucratic nature of government projects, which often experience delays due to funding issues, procurement processes, and policy changes, could leave them waiting for an indefinite period. For many traders, the idea of waiting for such a long time is untenable, especially when they have livelihoods to support and families to feed.
In light of these concerns, many traders are calling for a self-managed approach to the rebuilding of the Adum PZ market. According to the Interim Chairman, the traders are willing to pool their resources together to construct a new market on their own terms.
Another concern raised by the traders is the potential for unfair distribution of the rebuilt stores. Many traders fear that if the government takes charge of the rebuilding process, they might not be guaranteed the same store they had before the demolition. With the fear of political interference and favoritism in the allocation of spaces, the traders believe that self-managing the project will provide more equitable opportunities for all involved.
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