Tensions Soar in Kumasi as Displaced Traders Clash with Authorities.
Heightened tensions erupted in Kumasi’s central business district on Thursday following a dramatic standoff between aggrieved traders and security personnel at the Adum Blue Light enclave. The confrontation, sparked by the ongoing enforcement of relocation policies by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), led to the deployment of military forces to restore calm.
Hundreds of traders, displaced in recent weeks due to KMA’s directive prohibiting trading in the area, stormed the location in a bold attempt to reclaim their former spots. The group reportedly dismantled police barricades in a coordinated push, demanding access to their usual trading spaces which, according to them, remain vital to their survival and livelihood.
Eyewitnesses recounted scenes of chaos as verbal altercations broke out between the protesting traders and law enforcement officers. Makeshift stalls were hastily erected along the streets, bringing vehicular movement in the bustling Adum area to a near halt. Many commuters were caught in gridlock as traders and their customers crowded the roads.
We are only trying to survive. They’ve moved us so many times without giving us a permanent space to trade, said Akua Mensah, one of the many traders participating in the protest. According to her and several others, the alternative markets proposed by the KMA offer poor visibility and low foot traffic, resulting in dwindling sales and economic hardship.
The KMA maintains that the Adum Blue Light enclave was declared a no-trading zone due to safety, congestion, and sanitation concerns. In a brief statement issued Thursday evening, the Assembly reaffirmed its stance on regulated trading zones but noted that it would “engage stakeholders to address the situation in a constructive manner.
By late afternoon, the situation had escalated beyond the control of the police, prompting the involvement of the military. Armed soldiers were seen patrolling the streets, ensuring that calm was restored and preventing further clashes. Though no major injuries were reported, the air remains tense as traders vow to continue resisting until authorities provide what they describe as “fair and accessible trading spaces.
The incident is the latest in a string of urban confrontations between local authorities and informal sector workers across Ghana’s major cities. As Kumasi, like many urban centers, grapples with congestion and rapid development, the delicate balance between maintaining order and preserving livelihoods remains a pressing challenge for policymakers.
Observers say dialogue, transparency, and inclusive planning are key to finding lasting solutions. Until then, the streets of Kumasi may continue to be flashpoints of resistance and frustration for its resilient, yet struggling, informal traders.