Amenfi East restricts Traders from Sekondi-Takoradi, Axim as COVID-19 cases rises

• Posted on April 30, 2020April 30, 2020
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

The Wassa Amenfi East District is shut to any trader from neighbouring districts until further notice.

This comes after a rise in cases of coronavirus infection in the capital of the Western Region; Sekondi Takoradi, and Nzema East.

District Executive for the Wassa Amenfi East, Helena Ama Appiah  explains that a directive has been enforced since Monday to bar traders from outside the district, in a bid avert an intrusion and further spread of COVID 19 in the area.

Traders, numbering fifteen, have been denied entry into the district capital, Akropong this morning. The traders most of whom are residents of Sekondi and Shama, complained they are being stigmatized, and such demand audience with authorities.

But Hon. Ama Appiah in an exclusive interview on Skyy Power FM this morning, said those allegations are untrue.

“We are not stopping them because their communities have been hit by the virus”, she exclaimed.

In her justification for the closure, Hon. Ama Appiah stated that a notice have been issued all transport operators and traders about the restriction since Monday. She disclosed that their markets are quiet small and as such does not allow the traders to observe the physical distancing protocol.

“Our markets are small. The fish-traders alone occupies half of the market. On Monday, upon hearing that Takoradi has recorded new cases, we had a meeting to see how best we can curb an invasion of the virus here. The only thing we can for now is to observe social distancing but our markets are small.

“We met with the various transport operators that convey these trader here. We asked that they contact the traders and inform them that the markets are closed to them until we are able to find a suitable space for them so they could distance themselves.They agreed. Some of the traders even called the assembly to confirm the news”, she elaborated.

Commenting on the conduct of the traders who have been held at the entry points to the district, Hon. Ama Appiah said “their defiance to these directives is unacceptable”

She maintains that the assembly have the reserve to maintain order and protect lives of her people, and any others who come into the district.

She added that the assembly together with the COVID 19 Response Team are working assiduously to prepare a place for the traders so they could assume their work soon.

Author: Abraham Mensah