A/R: Kwadaso onion market traders refuse to relocate to new site

Traders at the Kwadaso Onion Market in the Ashanti Region are refusing to move to a new location dedicated for their relocation, four days after being evicted from their original market.

The traders are concerned about potential future evictions and are hesitant to move to land secured by the Kwadaso Municipal Assembly at Atwima Takyiman.

The Ashanti Regional Security Council had ordered the traders to leave the market, which led to the demolition of hundreds of structures on Monday, supervised by armed security personnel.

However, the once bustling Kwadaso Onion Market now lies empty, with traders refusing to relocate to the land provided for them.

Alhaji Abdallah Umar, the elder of Kwadaso Onion Market, in an interview with Citi News, stated that there has been no official agreement between the traders and officials regarding the relocation.

He mentioned that none of the leaders have been contacted or agreed to move to the new location, as it cannot accommodate all the traders.

“There is no official agreement between us, the traders, and any official following the release of the land for the relocation. None of the leaders here have been contacted or agreed with the Assembly that we are moving to the new place. The new place cannot contain us.”

“We developed the Kwadaso Onion Market before our eviction, but we do not have more information about the new place. You, the media, are also witnesses to the nature of the new place. That is why we are not willing to move there.”

The traders’ leadership is urging its members to remain calm, assuring them that their concerns will be addressed.

They called for the intervention of the Asantehene and the Regional Chief Imam to resolve the matter.

“All we expect is for our members to be calm. The Asantehene is the overlord of the land, and we know he will ensure that there is an amicable solution, so everyone should remain calm. The Regional Chief Imam has also intervened in the matter, and we are convinced that the issues will be resolved. Our members should be reassured that their concerns will be resolved.”

Meanwhile, the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah, denied that they were not informed before the relocation.

He mentioned that the traders had been engaged for over a year and that a press release was issued six months ago, requesting their relocation.

The Minister, however, cannot guarantee that the traders will not face a possible eviction at the new site, as he does not determine the area for development.

“They engaged them for more than a year. Even about six months ago, we came out with a press release that they should relocate. Some chiefs intervened and delayed the process, that's why on April 2, the Regional Security Council decided to release the final notice. How can I give assurance when I don't determine the place for development?”