A clash erupted between trading groups at Kejetia Market in Kumasi on Monday, June 24, 2024, led to chaos, wailing, and curses.
The conflict arose over trading spaces that shop owners claim are being sold by the management, including Managing Director Kofi Duffour and Operations Director Nana Poku, allegedly with the support of the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah.
Shop owners allege that these spaces are meant for emergency access and firefighting purposes, not for trading.
They assert that management has sold all market spaces, blocking emergency exits and endangering the market in case of a fire incident.
The traders are resisting the sale of the disputed spaces and have urged the Ashanti Regional Minister and the KMA mayor to intervene.
They have also expressed concerns about the inaccessibility of fire hydrants in the market, which they say are often blocked by traders and developers or sealed due to leakages.