Traders at Kumasi’s Race Course Market Fear for Their Lives Amid Surge in Armed Att@cks

Traders at Kumasi’s bustling Race Course Market are grappling with a rising wave of armed att@cks and attempted kidnappings that have left many fearing for their safety.

In recent weeks, traders, especially women, have become frequent targets of armed thugs who rob them at gunpoint, stealing money, valuables, and sometimes even assaulting them.

One of the most harrowing incidents involved Rose Akua Brobbey, a trader at the market, who was ambushed by armed robbers while on her way to work.

Rose had boarded a taxi to take her to the market, but the taxi ride turned into a nightmare when the occupants of the vehicle used a substance to knock her out.

Once unconscious, the robbers threatened her with a gun and knife, stealing her GH₵60,000, phones, and other personal items.

She was then left behind the Ebenezer Cemetery at Old Tafo, shaken and battered.

“It was a terrifying experience. They threatened to kill me if I screamed, and I was so scared for my life that I stayed quiet,” Rose recalled.

“I lost all my savings, and now I have to start over from scratch to support my family. My husband is ill and cannot help.” Rose’s plight highlights the struggles many traders face in the area, with many others reporting similar attacks.

In another alarming incident, two traders were targeted in an attempted kidnapping.

The traders had accepted a lift from a car near Meduma, planning to head to the Race Course Market.

However, the driver, along with an accomplice, drove them towards a more isolated stretch of road instead of their intended route.

Thankfully, quick-thinking bystanders helped rescue the traders before the situation escalated further.

The attacks are not limited to isolated incidents, as local residents, including Yaa Serwaah, a Meduma resident, have confirmed that such crimes are on the rise.

“Market women are frequently attacked and robbed on their way to work. Some even have their bank PIN codes forced out of them, and others are left with serious injuries after being assaulted,” Yaa Serwaah explained.

Alarmed by the growing insecurity, the Queen Mother of the Race Course, Bantama, and Suame Markets, Nana Afua Kyeiwaa, is calling for greater protection for traders.

“We are pleading with the police to strengthen security in the area to prevent further attacks on our women,” Nana Kyeiwaa urged.

As these violent incidents continue to escalate, both traders and local residents are demanding urgent action to ensure their safety.

Many hope that with increased police presence and stronger security measures, the situation at Kumasi’s Race Course Market can be brought under control.