A group of market women in Kumasi has voiced their dissatisfaction with the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and urged voters in the Ashanti region to look towards the alternative in the upcoming December 2024 general elections.
Their discontent is primarily directed at Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, who was recently selected as the running mate to the NPP’s flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
During a press conference a few days ago, the market women expressed frustration, claiming the government has neglected the Ashanti region, which has historically shown strong support for the NPP.
They referenced concerns over the stalled construction of key projects, including the Kumasi Central Market and the Krofrom Market, as evidence of neglect.
Christabel Amoah, the spokesperson for the traders, emphasized that while Dr. Opoku Prempeh hails from the Ashanti Region, his long tenure as MP for nearly two decades has not translated into tangible benefits for many.
“We don’t have a proper place to use as our market. We live in water. Racecourse has been deserted. We stay under the sun from morning till dusk for our daily bread. Sometimes we are overrun by vehicles and some even lose their lives through it.
“NAPO has been an MP for 16 years, and the abandoned Krofrom Market is in his constituency, so we expected him to fix it so we could use it, but he didn’t. And we don’t expect him to address our problems at this juncture when he has been appointed as running mate,” she said during the press conference.
The traders also highlighted lack of support during crises, including fire outbreaks, noting that the MP has not engaged with them to help find solutions.
“A lot has happened in our market, including fire outbreaks, but there has not been a single instance where he has come to us to share in our problems to help solve them.
“If Bawumia thinks we will vote for him because he is from the Ashanti Region, then he should forget about it. We are no longer going to vote based on where we come from but rather on who can bring development to Asanteman,” she added.
Source: modernghana.com
