Ashanti Regional Minister Simon Osei Mensah has sarcastically told petty traders in the Kumasi metropolis who bemoan the economic hardship to quit selling and venture into cocaine business if they are unable to contain the situation.
According to Mr Mensah, his office will not tolerate traders who sell at unapproved places under the cover of economic hardship.
He further warned traders to vacate from the pavements around the Suame roundabout, frontage of Komfo Anokye Hospital.
Speaking at a ceremony to re-launch the ‘Keep Kumasi Clean and Green project’, the Minister said indiscipline in the region will not be tolerated anymore.
The traders have refused to heed to instructions by relocating to Race course, Abinkyi and other satellitce markets.
“When we start enforcing the laws, people will be complaining of hardship. If there is hardship, then I will ask that you stop the business and go and sell cocaine for a living,” the incensed minister stated.
“The indiscipline is too much. I want to use this opportunity to caution traders who are defying orders to vacate from the pavements around the Suame roundabout. We have previously told them to relocate in a peaceful manner, but if they refuse to relocate, we will eject them forcefully.”
“Those traders who are also selling on the footbridge at the CBD must also vacate because the footbridge is not a place for trading activities. We are not interested in collapsing anybody’s business. When we eject them, they will start saying they voted for us to come into power. We have been voted to bring development and not to encourage lawlessness and indiscipline.”
By: Joseph Nii Ankrah