Artisans at Suame Magazine within the Kumasi Metropolis, have angrily responded to assertions made by former President John Dramani Mahama that their businesses are facing an imminent collapse following bad policies of the current government

“All that we want to say is that our work is not collapsing and hasn’t collapsed”. Mr. John K. Y Damptey, spokesperson for Suame Magazine Artisans Association disclosed on Kumasi-based Angel FM

According to him, the number of banks springing up around the magazine area is an indication that, business is booming and not collapsing as the Former President observed.

“Just count the number of banks that have sprung up around the magazine area. Would these banks open their branches over there if our business were collapsing? He quizzed.

“As I speak now count the number of spare parts shops that have also emerged on both sides of the road and around these area” he challenged

Former President John Dramani Mahama during the NDC’s Unity Walk held in Kumasi during the weekend disclosed that businesses at the industrial hub of Kumasi are collapsing attributing it to the bad policies of the Nana Addo’s led government.

But businessmen in the sector have denied Mr. Mahama’s claim saying their businesses are rather flourishing and to buttress their claim compared magazine to the Kumasi Central Market.

“These are the two major marketplaces helping the region in terms of solving the problem of unemployment and things are fine”. He stressed

Mr. Damptey indicated that the only thing that is not going well with their business was the fact that, at first the mechanical part of their business was the only part gaining grounds because those engaged in repair works were more but observed that the normal selling and buying has doubled and in some cases quadrupled.

“People are no more interested in repairing their car parts; this is why the mechanical (repairing) aspect of our work has declined these days but not the entire business”

He further blamed various governments for not supporting in the provision of requisite equipment for training and repairing of parts of vehicles in the industry.