Adum Blue Light traders fight KMA’s decision to reconstruct market, prefer self-funding

Some traders affected by the recent fire at Blue Light Arena in Kumasi are opposing the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly’s (KMA) plan to rebuild the market.

The KMA closed off the trading area after checking the buildings' safety. This was done to prevent land encroachment and allow for reconstruction.

However, the upset traders want to fund the reconstruction themselves. They argue that many market projects in the city are still unfinished. They also mention chaos during stall redistribution at new markets.

Kumasi City Mayor Richard Boadi spoke on Luv FM about unsafe trading practices at Blue Light Arena. He noted that traders have started digging holes and drains, which could lead to another fire.

Boadi said, “When we went there, we realized people are messing up the area.” He emphasized that they needed to protect it from encroachment and involve traders in future plans. He warned that their digging could worsen any future fire incidents.

On Thursday, April 24, 2025, some affected traders removed a fence set up by KMA to access their trading space.

The traders wore red clothing to show their dissatisfaction with what they see as an attempt to take over their land.

While they agree on a market reconstruction project, they insist on self-funding it entirely. They believe this will help avoid future issues with stall redistribution.

One trader stated, “We accept it. But we want to reconstruct the market ourselves.” They also seek technical assistance from KMA.

Another trader mentioned past issues: “Kejetia Dubai burned two years ago. Over 50 shops were destroyed, and nothing has happened since.” They expressed frustration over unfair stall allocations after previous disasters.