Rumour over market inauguration causes agitation at Old Tafo
There was confusion at Old Tafo in Kumasi last Wednesday when traders at the Tafo Market got information that the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Alhaji Collins Dauda, was in town to inaugurate a market under construction in the community.
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The traders, mostly female, massed up at the project site ostensibly to prevent the minister from carrying out the activity because work on the market was not complete.
The contention of the agitated women was that inaugurating the uncompleted market would deny many of them the opportunity of being allocated the stalls and stores they were entitled to.
False rumour
However, the information turned out to be false as Alhaji Dauda, together with his deputy, Mr Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum, and the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr John Alexander Ackon, arrived at the site to disclose that they were there to inspect the project.
The false rumour also reached the chief’s palace, forcing the Tafohene, Nana Agyin Frimpong II, and some of his elders to also move to the site to verify the information.
Explanation
Alhaji Dauda explained to the women and the chiefs that he and the regional minister were at the site to inspect work on the project and interact with the contractors to know if they were facing any challenges.
He said there was no way the government would inaugurate the market without informing the chiefs who were the custodians of the land, more so when the market was still under construction.
Besides, he said, the government was aware that the number of shops and stores being built at the Tafo Market were not enough to be allocated to all the registered traders of the old market.
“We will make sure that we have enough space to accommodate all the traders before we open it for business. We will not deprive you of your former status,” he assured.
Alhaji Dauda promised the women that none of those who had been registered would be denied space at the market when work on it was completed.
He said the consultant was in discussions with the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) and the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) to extend the contract to allow for an expansion of the project.
The minister also inspected the Agogo Market, where he commended the contractor, De-Geons Investment Limited, for a good job done.
Work on the GH¢8.8 million market is almost complete, with the construction of 568 lockable stores and a car park, among other facilities.
The second phase of the project would include a crèche and a police post.