Traders have taken over pavements and parking areas in the central business district of Takoradi, claiming they are capitalising on the change in government and other festivities to do business.
Traders were hitherto not allowed to trade at those spaces.
They are found at every corner and street of the central business district (CBD), selling a wide range of items, from vegetables, shoes, tissue, drinks, jewellery to used clothes.
A tour of the CBD by the Daily Graphic indicated that city guards looked on unconcerned as the traders went about their business.
Some of the guards, who spoke to the Daily Graphic on condition of anonymity, said much as they were worried about the situation, “we were almost beaten by the campaign team of one of the political parties when we attempted to push the traders back. They heckled some of us and pushed us to the ground”.
Collins Avenue
The worst affected parts of the CBD include the median (island) of the Collins Avenue-Market Circle Police Station road, which has been taken over by used clothes sellers; while taxi drivers and other traders have taken over the All-Needs Traffic Light and streets, leaving pedestrians to stumble through the melee.
Unauthorised currency dealers (black market) have also positioned themselves on the street, harassing passers-by.
Next to them are traders selling phones and their accessories.
The STMA
When the Daily Graphic visited the offices of the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA), the managers were in a meeting.
The Head of the Public Relations Department of the assembly, Mr John Laste, in an interview, expressed worry over how the success the assembly chalked up in containing the traders within the market appeared dashed.
“As we speak now, I just stepped out of a meeting in which the situation at the Market Circle is on top of the agenda. What is happening at the Market Circle is unacceptable,” he said.
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