Traders in Kumasi have issued a strong ultimatum to the government, warning of a mass protest if work on the Kejetia Phase II redevelopment project does not resume by the end of May 2026.
The Combined Kumasi Central Market Traders Union says its members have endured years of hardship since their eviction from the Kumasi Central Market in 2021 to pave the way for the project.
At a press conference held on Tuesday, April 14, the Union’s Director of Operations, Daniel Otuo Acheampong, highlighted the severe disruption to trading activities and livelihoods caused by the prolonged delay.
He noted that while some traders were relocated to the Kumasi Racecourse, many still lack permanent trading spaces. Those at the Racecourse, he said, are dealing with poor infrastructure, including bad roads, inadequate sanitation, poor lighting, and insecurity—conditions that have negatively affected customer turnout.
Meanwhile, traders who continue to operate within sections of the Central Market face flooding, sewage odour, and mounting waste, raising serious public health concerns.
The Union also expressed disappointment over an earlier assurance by Vice President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang that construction would resume in March 2026—something that has yet to happen. Traders suspect funding constraints may be behind the delay and are calling for the immediate release of funds.
Additionally, they are pushing for a change in project management, suggesting that a capable private entity be engaged to improve efficiency and security.
The traders have further appealed to Otumfuo Osei Tutu II to intervene and help resolve the impasse.
They warned that if no action is taken within the stipulated timeframe, they will have no option but to stage a large-scale protest.
