Some of the aggrieved traders protesting over the poor state of the market
Correspondence from Ashanti Region
Market women (traders) at Mamponteng, the capital of the Kwabre East Municipal assembly of the Ashanti region, have expressed worry over how their lives are constantly threatened with many of them losing their lives due to numerous electric shocks from a high tension pole.
They have, therefore, sounded an alarm over their precarious working conditions, and are demanding urgent completion of their market project which, according to them, has been abandoned for more than thirteen years now.
The traders report that, sitting under high tension poles as their current place of abode, has put their lives under severe health risk including numbness, disappearance of sexual feelings leading to broken homes, and visual disturbances.
Attributing their current calamity to operating directly under high-tension electrical poles and wires, the aggrieved traders have given the government a month ultimatum to resume and complete the market structure that has been stalled for years.
They also allege that the persistent shocks from the high tension poles have affected their sexual feelings making them inactive, a situation they say has also affected their marriages.
The traders who protested over the long standing canker, said, their current call aims at drawing the attention of authorities to the non-operational market structure.
According to them, on September 29, 2025, Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyeman visited the site during a working tour and notably pledged to oversee the resumption of the construction, but it was very unfortunate that nothing good has since come out of the promise.
Recounting their harrowing experience, most of these traders disclosed that their shops were recently damaged by a falling high-tension wire, resulting in the destruction of their property by fire.
Sharing emotional testimonies the traders revealed the immediate dangers faced by those working in the area and demanded quick intervention.
They have appealed to the government to immediately complete the project for else they may have no option than to take the law into their own hands and begin to the uncompleted market site to play their trade.
Speaking to this reporter during the demonstration, the Market Queen Mother, Nana Yaa Achiaa, tearfully lamented the market’s prolonged neglect.
“Many of us are suffering from various illness due to the danger we are exposed to. We have complained on several occasions, yet no proper arrangements have been made for us. We may have no option than to move to the uncompleted market structure”, she said.
Following their peaceful protest, the aggrieved traders met with Nana Owusu Ansa II, the Krontihene of Mamponteng.
The traditional leader assured them that he would disseminate the information to the Mamponteng Chief and elders so that they would together engage with the government authorities to seek a permanent resolution to the long-standing issue.
Nana Owusu Ansa II also urged the government to act promptly on this critical situation before any further harm or tragedy occurs.
Assuring them of the palace’s supporting, the Krontihene urged the traders to exercise restraint, adding that authorities were soon going to push for the construction and completion of the many years stalled market project.
“You know how we have been with you in this fight. My superior is not here, and I assure that this message would be conveyed to him and the necessary action is going to be taken seriously,” he stated.
Source:
www.ghanaweb.com