Fear and uncertainty have gripped traders at the Madina Market following a planned demolition by the La Nkwantanang-Madina Municipal Assembly, with about 1,000 livelihoods potentially at risk if the exercise goes ahead.
The anxiety follows the arrival of military personnel and bulldozers at the market around 3:00 a.m., despite a meeting between the traders’ leadership and the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) on the previous day to seek a halt to the exercise.
Although no demolition was carried out, the early-morning presence of the security personnel and heavy equipment has left traders worried about the future of their businesses.
The Assembly had reportedly given traders a two-week notice, explaining that the structure had become weak and needed to be pulled down for renovation on safety grounds.
However, the traders, led by the President of the La Nkwantanang General Goods Traders Association, Samuel Konadu Darkwa, are challenging the planned demolition, describing it as unlawful and indicating that the matter has been taken to court.
Mr. Darkwa said the association’s leadership met the MCE on the previous day to appeal for the exercise to be suspended to allow further discussions, but the arrival of the military personnel and bulldozers in the early hours of the morning has heightened tensions.
He also expressed concern that the Assembly had not collected data on the traders occupying the shops, warning that proceeding with the demolition without properly accounting for them could leave about 1,000 traders without their source of livelihood.
Some traders are appealing to the Assembly to postpone any demolition until after the Christmas festivities, explaining that they have already stocked their shops in anticipation of increased sales during the season.
They fear that an immediate exercise could leave them counting significant losses at a time when many depend on festive-season trading to support their families and sustain their businesses.
The traders are therefore calling on the MCE and the Assembly to engage them in further dialogue and agree on a way forward that addresses the stated safety concerns without abruptly disrupting their livelihoods.
For now, uncertainty hangs over the market as traders await further engagement with the Assembly amid concerns about the future of their shops and businesses.
Add the traders’ strongest allegationsMake the court action more prominent
