The management of Kumasi City Market has been instructed to put a stop to the planned elections for market leaders by Queen Mother of the Ashanti Kingdom Asantehemaa Nana Konadu Yiadom ll.
According to the Asantehemaa, the market already has over 70 commodities queens in charge of running its daily operations, thus the market management’s decision to elect new leaders is simply a repetition of what already exists.
Speaking on Akoma FM‘s current affairs and political show GhanAkoma Thursday, October 13, Baamuhemaa Nana Konadu Yiadom told host of the show Aduanaba Kofi Asante Ennin that “management of Kumasi City Market and some factions among the traders were summoned by Asantehemaa Nana Konadu Yiadom II to explain why they have decided to conduct elections at her market without her approval, so after the whole meeting it was concluded that the upcoming elections to elect new leaders must be shot down”.
Baamuhemaa Nana Konadu Yiadom whiles recounting what transpired at the Asantehemaa’s palace on Wednesday, October 12 added that “Asantehemaa further reiterated that all markets within Asanteman belongs to her including Kumasi City Market, so not even the market management or Board can conduct elections in the market without her approval”.
Baamuhemaa, who is one of the over 70 commodity queens sworn into office by Asantehemaa to steer the affairs of the entire Market, further explained that “management of the market decision to conduct the elections is a disrespect to the directives of Asantehemaa because already there are various commodities queen mothers steering the affairs of the entire market, therefore no need for elections to elect executives to supersede the powers of the Asantehemaa.”
The Kumasi City Market executive’s election, which was expected to come off on Wednesday, October 26, saw a group of traders calling themselves City Market Traders Union and have been championing the election of new leaders and executives to form common front for the traders welfare.
Meanwhile, another section of traders within the market who go by the name Federation of Kumasi Traders greeted the elections with fierce opposition as they explain the market has leaders who on daily basis report to Manhyia.