The Ashanti Regional Minister, Samuel Sarpong has served notice his office will not allow the traders to go back to the parts Kumasi central market that were burnt.
“That is completely out and we will not allow them to come back,” the Minister announced.
Portions of the Kumasi central market was gutted by fire on Thursday night destroying property running into thousands of Ghana cedis.
The personnel of the Ghana Fire Service struggled in fighting the fire due to the lack of access routes into the market.
Mr. Sarpong who paid a visit to the market to commiserate with the affected traders revealed plans by government to construct a new market.
He mentioned that structures in the market are old which has prompted investors to rebuild the market.
“As at now, the bill is in Parliament and I am very, very optimistic that by tomorrow, it will be passed and the President will give his assent to it then they [investors] will come and start with the market immediately,” he said.
Mr. Sarpong remarked that the traders were “a nuisance and so we will make sure that they won’t come back.”
“This is a street and it is not meant for marketing so I don’t see the reason why we should allow them to come back,” he added.
Investigation into the cause of the fire is currently underway as shop owners are now trooping to the market to count their losses.
By: Efua Idan Osam/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @osamidan