KUMASI MAYOR SENSITIZES HAWKERS AT CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT

The Mayor ofKumasi, Hon. Osei Assibey Antwi and the Metropolitan Security Council (METSEC),recently toured the Central Business District (CBD) of Kumasi on foot tosensitize hawkers, traders and commercial drivers on the need to observe thesocial distancing and face mask wearing protocols in the wake of the outbreakof the Covid-19 pandemic in Kumasi.

The team touredmost part of the Central Business District that was known to be frequentlycongested and the situation was same when they got there.

The Mayor tooktime to educate the traders on the need to protect themselves and to avoidovercrowding in the Central Business District. Commercial drivers were alsoeducated on the need to wear nose mask and not to allow passengers without themask board their vehicles.

Hon. OseiAssibey Antwi in a brief remark said the KMA has met with the leaders of theCentral Market and came out with modalities on the rotation of the traders. Henoted that the rotation system initially covered only traders who were sellingfood items but has now been expanded to cover those who sell other commodities. 

He added that there was an ongoing talk with the driver unions in the metropolis to educate their members on the need to wear the nose mask; this he said would go a long way to protect people.

“We are not in normal times whereby we should allow people to be overcrowded, if we allow this, the virus will spread everywhere” the MCE noted.

At the PZ-Asempa area where it is known to be the market for second hand mobile phones and watches, the manner in which the traders were packed was alarming which compelled the team to close down the small market until a suitable arrangement is put in place before they could be allowed to trade again with the rotation system.

He also charged the traders who were selling mobile phones, laptops, batteries and other electronic gadgets in front of Adum Melcom to also introduce the rotation system since the place was also packed.

He concluded by saying that the fight against the pandemic is a collective responsibility and appealed to all within the metropolis to comply with the Presidential directives.

Story: EMMANUEL ANTWI JNR