Kwabena Obeng – chairman Kejetia Traders Association
The leadership and membership of the Kejetia Traders Association have opposed the directive of the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah asking the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) to stop distribution of keys to shop owners of the newly constructed Kejetia market.
The Ashanti Regional Minister has reportedly ordered the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) to hold on with the distribution of keys to the shop owners of the market after accusing the Assembly of not being transparent in the management of the facility.
The Kejetia Traders Association has threatened to sue the Ashanti Regional Minister, following his alleged interference in the management of the Kejetia Redevelopment Project.
The traders are contemplating taking legal action to seek justice because the conduct of the minister is a deliberate attempt to delay the distribution of keys and the movement of the traders to the market.
The traders want the removal of the regional Minister from office for unwarranted interference in the management of the facility at a time all processes were almost completed for the occupation of the market.
They claim the directive from the minister is unlawful and tantamount to abuse of authority.
The Chairman of the Kejetia Traders Association, Mr. Kwabena Obeng has stated that the directive from the regional minister seems to challenge the powers of the Kejetia Market Management Board which was inaugurated to steer all the affairs of the facility.
According to the chairman who doubles as member on the Kejetia Market Management board, Hon. Simon Osei Mensah is not a member of the management board so he has no authority to control the assembly to halt on it operations.
Mr. Obeng noted that some auxiliary institutions as well as service providers have started operations at the facility and any further delay in the operationalization of the market will mean a cost for no work done by the contracted service providers.
“If the Regional Minister has a challenge, he must confer with the management board instead issuing such a lame directive. We are ready to meet the minister in court for justice to prevail”, he emphasized.
He wondered why the regional minister is not focusing on his duty to rehabilitate deplorable roads in Kumasi but has spared such time to interfere with their businesses, which is the only source of livelihood to traders.
Chairman Obeng appealed to President Akufo-Addo to terminate the Minister’s appointment since his conduct could derail the progress made so far regarding the Kejetia project.
Mr. Obeng accused the Regional Minister of deliberately delaying the resettlement of the traders at the new market to frustrate them six clear months after the sod had been cut by the President and the Asantehene last May for the construction of the second phase of the project.
