Traders at the Racecourse Market in the Ashanti Region have vowed to vote against the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the forthcoming election if the party fails to push for significant socioeconomic improvement in the region.
Their dissatisfaction stems from Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh of the Ashanti region being named the party’s flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s running partner.
According to the traders, their persistent support for the party has not resulted in favorable outcomes in regional lobbying efforts, particularly their delayed market projects.
They are upset that the party and administration have ignored them.
Christabel Amoah, market leader, expressed concern to the press about the region’s abandoned market initiatives and the poor roads leading to the Racecourse market.
“We voted the NPP into power 8 years ago. But we haven’t been attended to in terms of development.
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“Traders across the city are left stranded. Markets in the city have been abandoned. We will advise ourselves if they fail to complete these markets before the elections,” she said.
The Krofrom market, one of the largest commercial centers in the Manhyia North constituency, where Dr. Opoku Prempeh was a lawmaker for a decade and a half, has been abandoned for many years.
“NAPO has been MP for 16 years and the abandoned Krofrom market is an issue he could have addressed but he didn’t and we don’t expect him to address our problem now that he has been appointed as running mate,” she told reporters.
Following their relocation to make room for the second phase of the Kejetia redevelopment project, the merchants were placed in a temporary trading center near the Race Course.
The roads leading to the market center are in poor condition, hindering commercial activity.
