Traders at Asamankese, the capital of the West Akim municipality, are appealing to their Municipal Chief Executive, Seth Oduro Boadu, to come to their aid following moves by the town’s traditional council to stop them from plying their trade along the streets.
According to the traders, the Oboadwan Traditional Council has vowed to eject them from the streets, a place they get their daily bread from.
The traders own stalls structures along the streets of Asamankese where they sell assorted items.
There are reports that the traditional council led by the chief of the town is undertaking the exercise in a bid to decongest the Asamankese roads.
But the traders say they are able to fend for themselves and their families by trading along the streets hence the action by the traditional council will deprive them of their daily bread and that of their dependents.
They are thus seeking the MCE’s intervention to help save their business.
“l have been here for more than 30 years. This is where I earn a livelihood and take care of my children and their schooling. We beg the chiefs not to eject us and have sympathy on us. My husband died a long time ago and I am now a widow. We are humbly calling on the father for all, the Municipal Chief Executive to intervene. This is the place we make ends meet. We plead with him [the MCE] to beg the chiefs for us. MCE please come to our rescue. We know how helpful and supportive you have been to traders and commercial drivers and the entire community since your assumption as the MCE,” one of the traders pleaded.
Another trader lamented that “it became a nightmare for us when the chiefs started the ejection exercise. They are taking off our source of livelihood and l have children. Some of us have been here for close to 35 years so kicking us out will mean depriving us of our source of income. We trust in our hard-working MCE, Mr Oduro Boadu, who has always listened to us, to rescue us from the hands of the chief”.
Another trader who could not hide her frustration at the traditional council’s action was hopeful that the MCE will heed their call and intervene.