Triple track system hits Kumasi Market to control coronavirus

Traders at the Kumasi Central Market in the Ashanti Region have begun a shift system in three groups to limit contact and spread of the coronavirus.

The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) implemented the system to prevent overcrowding in order to satisfy the social distancing protocols rolled out by the government during the partial lockdown.

According to the system, different traders will be present at the market at different times. The new measure started on Thursday, April 9, and the traders permitted into the markets had red tags for identification.

The intervention had to be implemented following a shutdown of the market due to congestion as the country battles the deadly coronavirus.

Public Relations Officer (PRO) of KMA, Henrietta Afia Konadu Aboagye, told theghanareport.com that the Assembly realised the population of the traders exceeded 5,000.

“So, we told them that we have to strike it (the number) by three and introduce what we call the colour card system—red, gold and green,” she explained.

This implies that approximately 1,142 traders will have the opportunity to operate on any particular day.

Thursday was for traders with red tags. The yellow group will report on Friday and the green tag bearers will be allowed to sell on Saturday, in that rotational order.

Ms Aboagye said any group that violated the arrangement with have their tags revoked and suspended from trading at the market indefinitely.

Maa Lydia, a cassava seller at the market, endorsed the new arrangement.

“It is not a problem for me, it has helped a lot because of the virus. The measures KMA leaders have undertaken is very helpful,” she said.

On Thursday, the traders were somewhat practising social distancing, but most of them were not wearing face masks and gloves.

The KMA had earlier distributed Veronica buckets and sanitisers and admonished the traders to observe social distancing and personal hygiene.