Kejetia Petty Traders Appeal to Otumfuo, President Mahama, Ashanti Regional Minister and Kumasi Mayor for Fair Allocation of Stores in Phase Two Project

Kejetia Petty Traders Appeal to Otumfuo, President Mahama, Ashanti Regional Minister and Kumasi Mayor for Fair Allocation of Stores in Phase Two Project

The Kejetia Petty Traders Association has made a heartfelt appeal to His Royal Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama, the Ashanti Regional Minister Dr. Frank Amoakohene, and the Mayor of Kumasi Hon. Richard Ofori-Agyeman, to intervene and ensure a fair allocation of stores to its members in the ongoing Kejetia Phase Two Project.

According to the Association, for over a decade, its members have endured severe hardship after being displaced from the old Kejetia terminal to make way for the redevelopment of the modern Kejetia Market. The traders explained that prior to their evacuation, city authorities under the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) took inventory and registration of all traders with a promise to reallocate them upon completion of the new facility. However, after the successful completion of the Kejetia Phase One Project, only a few members of the Petty Traders Association benefited from the allocation, leaving the majority without stores to continue their business.

Speaking to journalists during the Association’s End-of-Year gathering at Kejetia, the Chairman of the Petty Traders Association, Mr. Emmanuel Kwarteng, recounted the frustrations of his members, who have been forced to trade in open spaces and unauthorized areas under extreme weather conditions. He said the situation has not only affected their livelihoods but also exposed them to constant harassment from city taskforce officers.

“We were all trading at the old Kejetia terminal before the redevelopment began. The authorities registered every one of us and assured us that we would be relocated after the completion of the project. Unfortunately, after Phase One was completed, only a few of our members received stores while the rest were left stranded. For the past ten years, our members have been trading under the sun and rain without proper shelter. We are appealing to His Royal Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama, the Ashanti Regional Minister Dr. Frank Amoakohene, and the Kumasi Mayor Hon. Richard Ofori-Agyeman to come to our aid and ensure that we get our fair share of stores in the Kejetia Phase Two Project,” Mr. Kwarteng passionately appealed.

The chairman emphasized that the Kejetia Petty Traders Association remains a recognized and law-abiding body that has consistently cooperated with the KMA and market authorities over the years. He added that the association has contributed significantly to the local economy, and therefore deserves fair treatment in the ongoing redevelopment efforts.

Mr.Emmanuel Kwarteng also reaffirmed the traders’ unwavering belief in the leadership and fairness of His Royal Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, describing him as a father to all, whose intervention has always brought peace and equity among traders in the region.

“We have full confidence in Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, President Mahama, and our regional leaders. We believe they will hear our cry and ensure justice is served. We are not asking for anything new — we only want what was promised to us before the old Kejetia terminal was demolished,” he stated.

He further expressed optimism that the completion of the Kejetia Phase Two Project would restore dignity and stability to thousands of displaced traders, allowing them to work in a safe and structured environment that reflects the modern image of Kumasi.