Aggrieved traders in Kumasi want the Ashanti Regional Minister to direct them to the exact locations where they can get cocaine and trade in since he has advised them to consider dealing in the illicit drug
Mr Simon Osei-Mensah, at pre-launching of ‘Keeping Kumasi Clean and Green Project’ jabbed recalcitrant traders who have refused to vacate pavements despite eviction notices given them by city authorities.
A frustrated Minister who raised concerns about the indifferent attitude of the traders indicated that they act like goats and should consider venturing into other areas if they were not prepared to pack off the streets.
“Some people behave like goats and they needed to be whipped with canes before they will vacate from selling on the street and several unauthorized places”. He stated
“We forgave you in our previous decongestion but for this time, we will not spare you, ”he said at the event.
”When we tell you to vacate and relocate to satellite markets, you reply by saying the market is not good at such places…..If you think you don’t make good money at the market, go and do COCAINE business, that you would be better-off” He fumed.
Though the Minister claims he was taken out of context, the traders have not spared him asking that he is the right person to show them where the trade of the illicit drug is done since they do not know.
But the traders in outburst according to a report from ultimatefmonline.com filed by Ivan Heathcote-Fumador quoted some of the angry women as saying” as a minister, you are the father of the region. If we have wronged you, you should find a good way to speak to us. How can you tell your children to go sell cocaine? Can he say that to his children who go wayward? We know it is not safe here but we lost all our capital when we went to the place they designated for us in the market. If he wants us to sell cocaine, he should lead us to the place to stock for sale.”
“The minister did not speak well at all. If we are here because of hardships and you tell us to rather sell cocaine, it is not right. He should tell us where cocaine is sold or retract his comments. God who knows us will keep us safe from any accident. The trucks that bring in our plantain and cassava cannot get into the market. The road is not even accessible. We told them to grade the way for us and no one heeded.”
A plantain seller whose wares were displayed just close to the road told Ultimate News, “We sell cassava and plantain. We don’t know how to sell cocaine. Where they sent us smells all over because it is close to a garbage dumping area. It even generates a lot of diseases. We are women. We will not sell cocaine.”
‘The minister did not speak well at all. If we are here because of hardships and you tell us to rather sell cocaine, it is not right. He should tell us where cocaine is sold or retract his comments. God who knows us will keep us safe from any accident.
‘The trucks that bring in our plantain and cassava cannot get into the market. The road is not even accessible. We told them to grade the way for us and no one heeded’.
Source:MyNewsGH.com
