Traders in the Sunyani Municipal Assembly's Nana Bosoma Market are at risk of being evicted due to non-payment of rent.

A shop in the market is rented for GH20 per month, but the occupants have refused to pay.

The tenants, according to the Assembly, owe up to GH800,000.

Mr Ansu Kumi, the Municipal Chief Executive for Sunyani East Assembly, devised a beneficial payment arrangement to relieve the traders' burden, but the majority of traders refused to pay.

“You will be surprised to note that as we speak, the amount the Assembly charges for these stores monthly is GH20. Most of them have refused to pay. I have had a series of meetings with the leadership of those occupying the stores. The assembly agreed that we need to start from somewhere. So, every one who occupies this store needs to pay GH1000 - at least part of the debt so we can begin on a fresh page. This one too, most of them decided not to pay,” he told Citinews.

Tenants who are unable to pay their debt, Mr Kumi said, will have their stores seized by the Assembly.

“We decided that we will pursue this matter vigorously with all the seriousness that it deserves. We are giving them a month and this is an ultimatum I am giving - that we are giving them a month and whoever owes the assembly, we will seize the stores from them.”



Mr Ansu Gyeabour Agyiri, Secretary for Nana Bosoma Market Tenants Group says the Assembly has been unable to meet some of their demands.

“We told the Assembly to get money and give a face-lift to the market but they told us they do not have that money.

“We agreed that we will pay GH1000 so that they can use that money to improve security here and also produce toilet and other facilities here. But they gave us up to the end of February…”

He stated that the Assembly and traders had yet to meet to discuss the matter.

He claimed that due to the Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana's strike, the Group was unable to meet with the Assembly (CLOGSAG).

Source: The Independent Ghana