The bustling Kwadaso onion market in the Ashanti Region witnessed the demolition of hundreds of sheds on Monday, April 22, as traders scrambled to salvage their belongings amid forced relocation.
The Ashanti Regional Security Council (REGSEC) issued a recent directive ordering onion traders to vacate the market, citing security concerns posed by their operations in the area.
REGSEC highlighted the congestion caused by heavy-duty trucks parking near the market, leading to traffic congestion, particularly during peak hours. Additionally, a recent fatal accident involving a 45-year-old woman was attributed to the traders' activities.
Despite being given until April 21, 2024, to relocate to a new area at Atwima Takyiman, the majority of traders were reluctant to move.
Armed police and military personnel were deployed to oversee the forced relocation and demolition of the market.
Affected traders expressed frustration, stating they were not officially notified and given sufficient time to prepare for the move. They claimed they were under the impression that they would be able to purchase the land and were in the process of raising funds for the purchase.
One trader lamented, “You cannot just come this morning and say you are relocating us, that you got a place at Atwima-Takyiman and that we should go there, which is not fair.” Another expressed disappointment, stating, “We were told that they were selling the place to us, and we were gathering money to pay for it.”
The sudden demolition and forced relocation have left traders feeling aggrieved and uncertain about their future livelihoods.