Heavy security at Kantamanto to prevent further skirmishes

A combined team of police and military personnel on Tuesday foiled another violent attack on them by irate traders at the Kantamanto market, in an attempt to stop the security from taking over the burnt market.

The security personnel had to fire tear gas to disperse the crowd, who are bent on stopping the security from securing the place.

The traders, who vowed to prevent city authorities from taking over the burnt market on Monday night, set fire to lorry tires, wooden structures and blocked all entrances to the market.

Joy News’ Manasseh Azure Awuni who was at the scene described the incident as “a battle to take control of Kantamanto”.

Hundreds of angry traders swore to prevent the police from taking over the market, he reported, were afraid that if reconstructed by government, the stalls in the market will be sold out to other traders at ridiculously high prices.

The Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Christian Tettey Yohunowho led the team of personnel to restore calm, said the angry traders “have turned against the police, throwing stones at [us].

However, reports say calm has again returned to the market, but the traders have refused to move further away, raising tension there.