We will use spiritual means – Market Circle Traders warn as they’re denied market space

• Posted on May 6, 2021May 6, 2021
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

Some Traders who had stalls at the Takoradi Market Circle who qualified to be allocated market space at the temporal market near Ahenfie Hotel as a result of the demolishing of Market Circle are in tears that they have not had any allocation despite some GHc400 taken from them by the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA).

As a result, these affected Traders who spoke to www.233times.net have said that they’ll use spiritual means to address their concerns.

Checks by www.233times.net reveal that over 160 Traders are stranded as they have no market space at the temporal market. Even though these Traders have receipts to prove of the GHc400 payment, it is unclear what the payment was for since the communique by STMA to the general public assured all Traders who had stalls at Market Circle an automatic space at the temporal market.

“I was bequeathed the Market Circle space by my mother who also inherited it from her mother. More than three generations have benefitted from this. I have receipts of all my daily tolls I pay to the assembly so why am I being denied of a space at the new market?” Auntie Ekua Essuon, an onion seller bemoaned.

“I have no other means to address this than use spiritual means to address this once and for all. I am tired of going to the assembly and not getting any response from those in authority. They are either unavailable or won’t talk to you at all. I know where to go to, to address this spiritually” a Trader whose name was given as Esi Yabiw revealed.

“Some traders are not originally from the Takoradi Market Circle but have paid to the authorities and have been given trading spaces and stores which is one of the factors leading to the neglect of the original traders at the market. Do they know how long the family has had this store at Market Circle, we will use spiritual means to get what is due us” Another Trader alleged.

What they mean by using spiritual means to address their concerns, the Traders said “we are all here in the City, you will see it yourself.”

Speaking to a contact at the Western Regional Coordinating Council who pleaded anonymity, “everyone will get market space at the new market. I have also heard some of these allegations but I would plead with the market women to exercise patience because everyone will get a space.”

“We are not sure who they paid the GHc400 to and what is for but we will investigate it but certainly, all original owners of space at Market Circle will get space at the new market, I can assure you” the contact assured.

Author: Nana Kwesi Coomson (www.233times.net) @nkcoomson on Twitter/Instagram