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Traders at Kumasi Central Market stranded after private developer seizes trading area
Traders at the Kumasi Central Market are in a state of despair after a private developer allegedly seized their trading area, deployed land guards to brutalize their security personnel, and vandalized the roofs of their shops.
The traders, who have been occupying that portion of the central market for over 40 years, are unable to continue their businesses as the private developer is claiming ownership of the land, compelling them to evacuate.
The affected traders are devastated at the prospect of losing their livelihoods. “We have been here for over 40 years,” one trader lamented. “This is the only source of income for our families.”
The traders are urging the government and relevant authorities to intervene and protect their rights. They believe that the private developer is acting illegally and that they should be allowed to continue trading in the market.
The situation is further complicated by the unclear ownership of the land. The traders claim that the land belongs to the Ghana Railways Authority, while the private developer claims to have ownership rights.
The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has stated that they are investigating the matter to verify the true ownership of the land.
The traders are also frustrated by the lack of transparency in the process. They claim that they were not informed of the court ruling that allegedly granted ownership of the land to the private developer, and they have not been given any opportunity to challenge the ruling.
The traders are pleading with the government to step in and protect their rights. They are calling for an independent investigation into the matter and for the private developer to be held accountable for their actions.
Ghana’s First Lady, Lordina Mahama, has made a generous donation to the country’s national female Under-17 and Under-20 teams – Black Maidens and Black Princesses- as they continue preparations for major international assignments.
The donation, made on Friday, May 22, was presented on behalf of the First Lady by the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, at the GFA Technical Centre in Prampram.
The gesture forms part of efforts to motivate and support Ghana’s young female footballers as they prepare to represent the country on the international stage.
The donation included essential food items and toiletries aimed at supporting the welfare and well-being of the players and technical teams.
The donation included cartons of Milo, T-rolls, soft drinks, toiletries, and a range of essential supplies aimed at supporting the welfare of the players, enhancing camp conditions, and easing preparations ahead of their respective assignments.
The Black Maidens are currently engaged in preparations for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers and are set to take on Liberia women’s national under-17 football team in the second-leg encounter in Liberia this weekend.
Meanwhile, the Black Princesses have already secured qualification to the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup after overcoming Uganda in the qualifiers, extending Ghana’s remarkable record to eight consecutive appearances at the tournament.
The donation by the First Lady was expected to boost morale within both camps while reinforcing national support for the young female footballers who continue to make the country proud.
The prosecution has officially rested its case in The Republic v Solomon Asamoah & Another, the high-profile legal battle commonly referred to as the “Sky Train” case.
The Deputy Attorney General Justice Srem Sai announced the development, praising the state’s team of hard-working prosecutors for successfully anchoring the state’s evidence before the High Court.
The criminal trial centers on the former Chief Executive Officer and the former Board Chairman of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF).
The duo stands accused of illegally authorizing and paying out US$2 million to a foreign company without obtaining board directives or other mandatory statutory approvals.
State investigators have confirmed that the disbursed millions cannot be found.
Following the closure of the prosecution’s case, the accused persons moved the court for an opportunity to file a submission of no case.
The presiding judge granted the application, ordering the defense to submit their arguments by June 8.
The outcome of the June 8 filings will decide the fate of the trial:
With this, if the judge finds the defense’s submission convincing, the accused will be acquitted and discharged however, If the judge dismisses the submission, the court will order the accused officials to take the stand and explain why they should not face prison sentences.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
