Traders at the Race Course Market in Kumasi have become frequent targets of armed thugs and attempted kidnappings in recent weeks.

According to the traders, their lives are at risk as they are attacked at gunpoint, and robbed of money and other valuables.

The situation has become increasingly terrifying, especially for women who rise early to balance their livelihoods and family responsibilities.

In a shocking incident, Rose Akua Brobbey, a trader at the Race Course Market, was attacked by armed thugs while in a taxi cab. She was robbed of her GH₵60,000, phones, and other valuables. Rose was also beaten during the robbery.

"While on my way to the Race Course Market, I was robbed at Kenkey Junction. I boarded a taxi, but unfortunately, it was a setup. The occupants used a substance to knock me out and threatened me with a gun and knife. They stole my money, phones, and other belongings, and even physically assaulted me,” Rose narrated.

She added; "Before leaving me, the armed men warned me not to scream or they would kill me. Fearing for my life, I remained silent and was subsequently dumped behind the Ebenezer Cemetery at Old Tafo."

Rose shared that the incident has significantly impacted her finances and business. Losing her money and belongings means she now has to rebuild from scratch, as she is the primary breadwinner due to her husband's illness.

"The incident hit me hard, especially because I’m the one taking care of our children since my husband had a stroke. I truly lost hope," she said.

Rose sells gari, flour, Nido, Tom Brown, sugar, and other goods at the Race Course Market. Her story is not an isolated one. Several other traders at the market have been victims of similar attacks in recent times. 

In a particularly alarming incident, two traders were recently targeted in an attempted kidnapping along the Mampong Road. The traders had requested a lift from a car near Meduma, planning to head to Race Course Market.

However, the driver and an accomplice drove them toward the Mampong stretch instead of the intended Kumasi route. Thankfully, good Samaritans intervened, rescuing the traders from the dangerous situation.

A resident of Meduma, Yaa Serwaah, also confirmed that market women have frequently fallen victim to robberies in the area.

"While you're on your way, they use the Pragia to rob you of your phone or bag. They've even attacked one of my neighbours, leaving her with machete wounds. At times, they'll demand that you give them your PIN code so they can withdraw money from your MoMo account."

Three years ago, Yaa Serwaa's worker was robbed of around GH₵5,000 in the Meduma area. The situation has caught the attention of the Queen Mother of the Race Course, Bantama, and Suame Markets, Nana Afua Kyeiwaa. Alarmed by the rising insecurity, she is calling for increased security measures to protect the traders.

"We are appealing to the Ghana Police Service to address this issue this year. We urge them to tighten security so that criminals won’t have the chance to rob our market women," said Nana Kyeiwaa.

As the frequency of these attacks increases, both traders and residents are calling for urgent action to ensure the safety of those working in and around the Race Course Market.