Scores of market women at four (4) popular market centers in the Ashanti Region, namely Bantama, Race Course, Asafo and Kumasi Central Markets have asked the government to work towards stabilizing the cedi to make their trading less stressful.
They also asked the Ashanti Regional Minister as well as the Metro Chief Executive (MCE) for Kumasi to rein in the KMA task force, who the women accused of unduly exploiting them every day in the markets.
The traders bared their teeth to newsmen when the Regional Women’s Organizer for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Ama Ampomah paid a day’s visit to the markets.
The visit by the women’s organizer was to afford her the opportunity to listen to the concerns or complaints of the traders and seek for ways to addressing the challenges they may have.
A market woman incensed with the activities of the KMA task force
RESPONDENTS:
Madam Margaret Donkor, a cloth seller at Central Market recounted to the Ghanaian Observer Newspaper in tears the bad treatment custom officials at the Aflao border subject them to anytime they travel to buy goods from Togo into Ghana.
Some of these officials, she alleged connive with some national security persons to extort monies despite they fulfilling duty charges.
Abigail Oduro, a fish seller at the Asafo Market recounted how the previous government slashed duty on frozen fish and frozen chicken.
This, she noted made them gain a lot of profit on their frozen products, adding that a similar gesture by this government will be welcome news.
‘’We are grateful to the NPP government for taking the burden of school fees from us but we plead that they slash duty on fish and poultry products so as to enable us make good profits’’, Mrs Oduro.
A task force member at the bantama market explaining their operations to Nana Ama Ampomah after complaints had reached the women’s organizer from the traders
WOMEN’S ORGANIZER:
Speaking to this reporter after the three hour tour, Nana Ama Ampomah noted with delight the opportunity to meet with traders to learn at first hand their concerns.
She said the expression of dissatisfaction and lack of understanding by traders on some of the policies by government is welcome news.
This, she noted affords both the party and government the opportunity to re-strategize their communication as well as evaluate the manner policies are being implemented in the country.
‘’I am glad that I have had the opportunity to listen to these hard-working traders and seeing my mothers, sisters and friends do legitimate business to feed their families gives me hope and I am more than determined to carry their concerns to the appropriate quarters for solutions or for redress’’, Nana Ama Ampomah passionately stressed.
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