A team of muscled men has evicted prostitutes and squatters from the Nana Afia Kobi Market, also known as Abinkyi Market to create space for traders to pitch camp to carry out their business.

The eviction was carried out on the orders of the Abinkyi market queen Nana Fameye.

Apart from prostitutes using the market as a brothel, it has become a lair for armed robbers and drug users.

The market women have been complaining about the theft of their mobile phones, money and other belongings by thieves in the enclave.

Speaking in an interview with Classfmonline.com, the public relations officer of the Abinkyi market, Mr Henry Nyarko, explained that the exercise was aimed at decongesting the Kumasi central business area.

He, thus, entreated the traders to leave the streets of the central business area and go for shops within the Abinkyi market since they would now be free of the criminal activities of robbers and prostitutes.

“The Abinkyi market has become a hideout for hardened criminals, squatters, and prostitutes. Shop owners rented their shops to prostitutes and squatters. The Queen mother who represents the Asantehemaa, Nana Ama Konadu, issued the directive that the prostitutes should be evicted. There are spaces here but the traders are scared to be here because of the robbers and prostitutes,” the PRO said.

Mr Nyarko asked all shop owners who rented their spaces to prostitutes to repossess their properties so as to make the market a lively place once again.

He promised the shop owners that they would be protected from criminals in the enclave.