Kejetia traders, transport unions cry to Prez Mahama to protect their interests
Traders and transport unions at the Kejetia Transport Terminal have appealed to President John Mahama to ensure that they do not lose their livelihoods after the reconstruction of the terminal into a modern edifice.
Advertisement
The groups alleged that the Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), Mr Kojo Bonsu, had consistently flouted directives by the acting Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Eric Opoku, for the unconditional registration of traders currently operating at the terminal.
Speaking at a joint news conference organised by the transport union, petty traders and the Kejetia Traders Association at Kejetia yesterday, the Chairman of the traders association, Nana Prempeh, alleged that the KMA was secretly registering people who were not traders at the terminal.
The news conference was attended by a number of traders who wore red arm bands.
Extortion
Nana Prempeh further alleged that the officials undertaking the registration exercise were extorting money from the traders, as they issued no receipts to cover the payments made and to indicate that those who paid the money had been registered.
He said another worry of the aggrieved traders was the demand for identity cards which were initially issued by the KMA to the petty traders, adding, “What it means is that if you do not have that card, you are not registered.”
That, he contended, was contrary to the directive of the Ashanti Regional Minister, who asked for the formation of a steering committee, comprising the traders and KMA officials, to oversee the registration of the traders which would form the basis for any future negotiation.
Threat
Nana Prempeh said while, what he termed, the dubious registration was going on, the KMA boss had written to the 24 driver unions, giving them timelines for their evacuation, but the letter did not say anything about petty traders.
Other Trending Stories
He explained that the over 5,000 traders were worried and scared about their future because the KMA boss had always referred to them as squatters.
Ashanti MPs
The group also accused Members of Parliament (MPs) from the Ashanti Region of showing very little concern about the plight of the traders.