Market Queens in Kumasi have lashed out at a group of traders who demonstrated against the city authority’s decision to evict them from the Race Course market. The resettlement of the traders will pave way for the construction works to begin on the Sun City Kumasi project, the brainchild of Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. Though a one year deadline for the traders to relocate expired last month, the demonstrators appealed to the Regional Coordinating Council to allow them stay till December to relocate. Hundreds of the traders took part in the protest march on Thursday. But thirteen market queens described the action of the breakaway traders as baseless and mischievous. They include queens for Plantain Sellers Association, Tomatoes Sellers, Smoked Fish and Bush meat Sellers. Others are Cassava Sellers, Orange Sellers Association, Fish Mongers, Kontomire Sellers Association and Cocoyam Sellers Association. Other traders who consented to the relocation are the Palm Nut Sellers, Palm Oil Sellers as well as Corn Sellers among others. The market queens are the leaders of the all traders in the market. In a letter addressed to the KMA mayor dated October 19 2010, the market queens appealed to the city authority to develop the Abinkyi area into a market after several meetings with the Asantehene and KMA. The market queens are surprised at the action of the traders when they were all aware the land was released to them temporarily. Chairperson of the Market Queens, Nana Akua Bakomah told Nhyira News the traders have no option than to comply with city authority’s directive for them to relocate by Monday. According to her, there is a sponsorship arrangement for traders who cannot afford payment of stall or stores at the new market. She called on the Regional Coordinating Council to evict all traders from the Race Course to pave way for the Sun City Project. Story by Ohemeng Tawiah, Nhyira Fm-Kumasi