Trading activities have resumed at the Kumasi Central Market after the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) closed it on Monday over traders’ disregard for social distancing protocols in the fight against coronavirus.

As part of arrangements made before reopening the market, the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) and the leadership of traders agreed to operate a shift system to avoid overcrowding.

The KMA, in a statement, indicated that the traders would be grouped into three and would be given cards which will show exactly when they are supposed to go to the market.

But some traders have been given their cards that allow them to operate. Others who were also yet to be given their cards were seen trading.

When Citi Business News’ visited the market, some of the traders called on authorities to implement the new arrangements effectively.

“The cards have been brought; but many people have still not received theirs. They also say depending on the colour you get, there are times you would have to report to the market and that is very good, because the virus doesn’t discriminate and you won’t know who has it,” one trader said.

“As I stand here, I haven’t received my card because we are many. They told us to come on Wednesday for the card, and we waited for long but no one came. None of us here has it. The soldiers said we were not practicing social distancing protocols and they were right. On Monday, we had people coming from other places to the Central Market, so they asked us to go home,” another trader lamented.

Kumasi Central Market closed down

As part of measures to curb the spread of the novel Coronavirus in the country, the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly closed down the Kumasi Central Market on Tuesday, April 7, 2020.

In a statement issued by the Mayor, Osei Assibey Antwi, he said the traders of the Kumasi Central Market were blatantly disregarding the World Health Organizations’s social distancing protocol, hence the decision to close down the market.

He further stated that the decision was taken after an emergency meeting with the Kumasi Metropolitan Security Council (METSEC) with committee members of the market and leaders of the trade associations in the market.

With Ghana already recording 387 cases, Accra, Kasoa, Tema and Kumasi are under a two-week partial lockdown.

Source: Citibusinessroom.com