The Mayor of Kumasi, Sam Pyne, has clarified that the Ashanti Regional Security Council (REGSEC) has not taken a decision to close down the Kumasi Central Market on election day, December 7, 2024.
Rather, he says the REGSEC will do everything possible to protect public property before, during and after the December 7 polls, like they have always done.
Sam Pyne’s comment comes at the back of a statement issued by one Nana Wiafe who claimed to be the Vice-Chairman of the Kejetia, Central Market and Abinkyi Market, opposing a possible closure of the market on the day of voting.
It was alleged in the statement that the NPP’s running mate, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, mooted the idea of which the Kumasi Mayor plans to execute on December 7.
However, reacting to the release in an interview with Kwame Adinkrah on Kumasi-based Pure FM, Sam Pyne denied any ploy by the REGSEC to execute an agenda of closing the Kumasi Central Market.
He explained that contrary, it was the Kejetia Queen Mothers Association who expressed a concern to Napo in a meeting at the Kumasi Cultural Centre about an evil ploy by some assailants to torch the market on election day in order to cause mayhem and prevent the traders from being focused to cast their votes.
“Napo has never said anywhere that they will close the Kumasi Central Market on election day.
On my part, I have not made that comment or taken a decision like that.
It is the traders that have appealed to us to protect their properties on the day of voting.
I must say that it has also come to REGSEC’s attention of an agenda by some people to set the market ablaze on the voting day. We are on top of the intelligence. We will do everything possible to protect the properties of the traders and the market at large on the day of voting and after.
It is our solemn duty as a security council for the region to do so.”
“But Kwame, let me add that, the alleged Vice Chairman of the Kejetia, Central Market and Abinkyi Market who issued the statement is actually a known functionary of the NDC. He has served as a personal assistant to a former NDC Parliamentary Candidate in the region.
Let us all disregard the statement and condemn their kind of dirty politics.
All these are panic reactions because the NDC knows their defeat in the polls is inevitable.” Sam Pyne remarked to Kwame Adinkrah
Source: Purefmonline.com || Evans Osei-Bonsu || 2024
