Traders at the 31st December Makola Market (A&B) in Accra have protested plans by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to relocate them, insisting that no suitable alternative trading space has been provided.
According to the traders, the planned exercise threatens their livelihoods, with many saying they were not given a clear temporary location before the relocation directive.
Speaking to journalists, the Interim Market Manager, Ebenezer Borbery, said the traders were concerned about the impact of the move on their businesses, especially given the number of affected persons.
He noted that more than 240 traders operate in the space, adding that many of them are aged and rely solely on the market for survival.
Some of the traders have vowed not to vacate their spaces until the AMA engages them further and provides a clear and suitable relocation plan.
“We are over 240. Where do we go? There are a lot of aged people among us. Me for instance, it is a loan I took to finance my business. Telling us to move without a suitable alternative will do me a lot of harm,” one trader told Citi News.
Meanwhile, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly has dismissed claims that traders were not given prior notice before the planned relocation.
The Mayor of Accra, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, speaking to Citi News, said the Assembly had duly informed the traders ahead of the exercise.
He explained that the relocation forms part of broader efforts to decongest Accra and improve order in trading activities, adding that additional shops are being constructed to accommodate affected traders.
According to him, the initiative is aimed at moving traders off the streets and ensuring a more organised marketplace in the capital.
