Sun City Project to take off as Race Course traders relocate

The Sun City Project is a brainchild of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II

Traders at the Race Course Market in Kumasi will, from Monday, relocate to the Kwadaso and Patasi markets to pave way for the beginning of the Sun City Project initiated by the Asantehene.

The relocation programme, which is in phases, follows several pleas from the traders to the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly for enough time to move to the allocated markets.

Both food sellers and shoemakers have agreed to move to the Kwadaso and Patasi satellite markets where they have been allocated spaces while other traders will also move to the new Abinkyi market.

It follows agreement between the traders and the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly after a meeting on Thursday.

A one year ultimatum to the traders to relocate or face sanctions from the assembly expired last Friday.

The assembly however said traders would be given time to complete the payment for affordable shops acquired for their respective trades.

The assembly is charging six thousand and two hundred Ghana cedis for stores and stalls respectively.

Officials say the new arrangement is in response to several pleas from the traders for an extension of time to enable them prepare.

Spokesperson for the KMA, Clement Kigeri told Nhyira FM, the large population of traders at the Race Course market will make it impossible for any spontaneous evacuation.

“The population there is too great. We cannot move all of them at the same time so it must be in phases,” he explained.

He said the assembly is convinced of the success of the relocation exercise when traders agreed to move on Thursday after a meeting.

“We explained to vegetable sellers and shoe makers that they would have to move to the new place and they agreed; then the next stage would be another group of people who would also have to move”, he said.

Mr. Kigeri said the assembly is also committed to ensuring that facilities needed for a conducive market environment are also provided in all the markets.

“Beyond just their plea, the assembly is also committed in making sure that wherever they (traders) move to, the development there would be good enough for marketing activities,” he added.

Story by Ohemeng Tawiah, Nhyira Fm-Kumasi/ Ghana