Traders at the Race Course in Kumasi are up in arms against the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) over attempts to relocate them to a new site at Brisco. The KMA had earlier expressed its intention to move the traders to a new place at Brisco near Adum but several attempts to move them have proved futile. Reports reaching Adom News indicate that some traders have acquired the new stalls at the Brisco site secretly but are still agitating against the ejection. The Race course market was given to the traders by the former Ashanti Regional Minister, Sampson Kwaku Boafo under former President Kufuor’s administration for temporal use after they were prevented from hawking in front of Kumasi Central market. Mr. Boafo was reported to have told the market women to occupy the place temporarily until the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II was prepared to use it for the proposed project which the traders allegedly agreed. The traders are now complaining that the new market centre is under a high tension cable and they cannot be assured of the safety of the area. They are also concerned about the low patronage they are likely to grapple with when they eventually move to the new site. Madam Comfort Owusu, one of the traders said although she and her colleagues are fully aware of the benefits of Otumfuor’s project, the Brisco site is too far and will affect their sales as it will be difficult for potential buyers to follow them there. Madam Comfort Owusu stressed the overly expensive sheds at Brisco are not big enough for them to display their goods. She therefore appealed to the KMA to find an alternative place for the traders where business will be brisk. However, the General Manager for TNK Construction (the company that is constructing the shops at the new site) Mr. Osman Ahmed, has stated that the concerns of the traders are due to misinformation. Mr. Ahmed said each trader is required to pay only GHS 200 for the sheds while those who want to acquire shops are to pay GHS 6,000 in installments. Story by Akuamoah Boateng/Adom News/Ghana