Traders who were removed from the Anaafo Market in Cape Coast have expressed anger at government over the stalled market project.

Government pulled down the old market structure and began the construction of a new one but the traders say, the construction has stalled for the past 6 months.

At a news conference in Cape Coast, the traders called on the Coastal Development Authority and the First Lady who led the project to do everything within their power to make the contractor get back to the site.

They stated, the inability of government to complete the project in the 12 months promised them has brought untold hardships on them because where they were relocated to hasn’t helped their course of business.

The Anaafo Market in Cape Coast is said to be the oldest market in the ancient city. Nearly two years ago, the market that has stood for over a century was pulled down and traders were assured of a new market that would be built in 12 months.

The aggrieved traders say the contractor has packed and left the construction site since the beginning of the year.

Aunt Esi is a trader at the Anaafo Market. She says where they have been taken to is collapsing their businesses and if the contractor was not made to return to the site to complete the project, traders would suffer more.

“We are simply suffering here. I am pleading that they should complete the market so we could go back. We are in debt and debtors are on our neck because business here is not good. Our businesses are not doing well here,” she said.

Esi’s Colleague, Sister Kuukua also stated how they’ve been exposed under the vagaries of the weather.

She stressed that; “We are pleading with government to help us out by completing what is left so we could go back. We are under the mercy of the weather where we are. And it is dangerous too because it is very close to the road. Our sales have dropped drastically.

Kojo Andoh, a broadcaster and one of the people that pushed for the market to built recounted, “The work progressed steadily after the sod was cut. Here we are after the elections, the contractor has packed from the construction site. The traders are now blaming we the leaders who pushed for the project. We want to tell the whole world that the contractor has packed from the site.

He further stated that for the past six months the contractor has not been to the site. He called on the Coastal Development Authority, the first lady and the MCE for Cape Coast to ensure the contractor returns as fast as they can.