We’re not collecting money from traders — KMA

The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has denied allegation that it is inflating prices of stores and shops of the yet-to-be completed Kejetia market.

It has rather fingered some people alleged to be collecting money from traders and shop owners under the pretext of registering them or helping them change ownership of their stores.

A statement signed and issued last Thursday by the Public Relations Officer of KMA, Godwin Okumah Nyame, said the alleged individuals were taking advantage of the on-going registration exercise at the Central Market to help their ‘clients’ change ownership of the stores they were currently occupying.

The statement reiterated to the public that the registration exercise was free “and no one is supposed to pay any amount for it”.

The KMA urged all traders to deal directly with the assembly’s designated officers and not to engage middlemen or agents to undertake any activity on their behalf.

The statement asked all traders and shop owners who were not abreast of the current registration formalities to contact the assembly to avoid any “unpleasant situation”.

Last Monday, some assembly members accused the Chief Executive Officer of the KMA, Mr Kojo Bonsu, of allegedly increased prices of the shops from an initially agreed GH¢1,500 to GH¢25,000 each.