Traders at the Kunka market in the Obuasi Municipality of Ashanti Region have bemoaned low patronage of goods at the market.

They blame the slow business on the poor road network and inactive lorry terminal at the market.

The traders are appealing to stakeholders to double their efforts in reviving the market.

The Kunka market, which was commissioned in January 2018 is empty, as most of the traders have left their stalls to sell on the streets.

Akua Sarfoa, a trader at the market, laments her food items rot away due to low patronage.

This, she says, has affected her profit and is unable to pay for loans taken from the bank.

“Business was good when the market was first opened, but not these days. The authorities have turned a blind eye to us. We go for loans to work and we are unable to repay them,” she bemoaned.

The few traders who sell at the market want authorities to take immediate measures to make the market attractive.

“We were initially here with some public transport drivers, but they have left us. They say the road leading to the market is bad, so they’ve all moved to the roadside,” Aunty Akua, a trader noted.  

Another trader also said, “We beg the authorities to help us, so people can buy from us. They should direct vehicles traveling to the rural areas to come here to load their vehicles, so people can buy from us”.

According to the municipal transport officer, the various transport unions in the municipality have been engaged to revive the lorry terminal at the market.

“We’ve written letters to all the transport union to inform them that the market will be their last stop. We’re waiting for our Municipal Chief Director to endorse the letter, “ the Obuasi municipal transport officer, Engineer Scott Nkrumah, said.

The municipal coordinating director has outlined plans to activate the Kunka market and lorry terminal at Obuasi.

Francis Dwira Darko assured traders the situation will be resolved in a month’s time.  

“The road has been awarded on contract, we’re hopeful the issue will be resolved soon,” he emphasized.

Road contractors have also promised the bad road network will be fixed before Christmas. 

“Hopefully when the road is fixed we’ll be expecting more traders here to make the market busy for trading,” Job Osei Tutu, C.E.O of Jobost company noted.