The Awutu Senya East Municipal Assembly has demolished part of the Kasoa Old Market to pave the way for a planned redevelopment project. This early-morning operation affected around 800 traders who were operating from temporary sheds, along with several hundred others conducting business in the impacted area.
Although authorities issued prior warnings, some traders claim there was no clear or definitive communication regarding the timing and scope of the demolition. Many of the affected traders have rejected the alternative trading site offered by the Assembly, describing the Iron City Market as unsuitable for their needs. However, the Assembly insists that the Iron City Market is a viable option for relocation. Speaking to Citi News, Rahman Abdul Mohammed, an officer at the Assembly, stated that the traders had been adequately informed before the demolition.
Authorities further indicated that measures have been put in place to prevent traffic congestion within the Kasoa Central Business District during the demolition process. Some traders, however, expressed frustration over the development, accusing authorities of unfair treatment.
“The NDC have not treated us fairly, especially Naa Koryoo. We heard she would demolish this area when she was campaigning. We asked her, but she denied it. She has disappointed us hugely. My capital is not even up to GH¢1,000. How can I raise GH¢100,000 to rent a stall? Our vote for her has brought no benefit to us,” a petty trader, Eric, lamented.
Akosua, one of the traders, lamented that the notice was far too short. “We were only informed yesterday morning that the structure would be demolished. The Iron City Market is not a suitable location for us. A child recently drowned there during flooding. Authorities visited and acknowledged the need for improvements, yet nothing has been done,” she said.
Samuel Fosu, a patron and member of the Kasoa Petty Traders Association, also voiced concerns about the alternative site. “The Iron City Market is already overcrowded. Those there insist there’s no space for us. We’ve appealed to the Ministry and even the NDC headquarters, but no one intervened. Now they’ve come to demolish the structure. I have seven children, and this is my only source of livelihood,” he explained.
The demolition is part of the Assembly’s wider redevelopment plan for the Kasoa Old Market, though traders remain deeply worried about the immediate consequences for their businesses and families.
Source: Akwasi Addo
