Major markets in the Ashanti Region were on Tuesday, July 21, 2020 shut down to pave way for phase two of fumigation exercise in the region by government in collaboration with Zoomlion Ghana Limited.
Over 330 markets in the Ashanti Region and lorry terminals were disinfected to control the spread of deadly coronavirus pandemic.
Places fumigated include Bantama market, Kumasi Racecourse, Kejetia market, Acheamfour lorry terminal, Asawasi market, and Kumasi Central market. Some public lavatories were also disinfected.
The Metropolitan Chief Executive of Kumasi, Osei Assibey Antwi and the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah supervised the disinfection exercise within in the region.
Osei Assibey Antwi addressing the press in Kumasi after the exercise said the disinfection and fumigation exercise will help reduce the spread of Covid-19 in communities and market places.
Osei Assibey charged the assembly members and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives to ensure public safety and admonished Ghanaians to adhere to all the preventive protocols to curb the spread of the virus.
He also admonished workers of Zoomlion Ghana Limited to do quality work as far as the disinfection and fumigation exercise is concerned or risked not being paid.
“Eyes are watching workers of Zoomlion Ghana Limited if they do shoddy work then they should forget their salaries. Government is coughing up huge amount of money and therefore Zoomlion Ghana Limited workers are expected to do quality work to help reduce the spread of Covid-19 in the country,” Osei Assibey said.
Meanwhile traders in Kumasi have expressed worry about short notice that was given by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly prior to the exercise.
“We heard the announcement yesterday around 5pm that KMA will shut down market places for fumigation exercise this morning. Our customers and majority of the traders are stranded because not all of us heard the announcement. The announcement should be on radio and television stations for at least 3 days” the traders noted.
