Atimpoku "Abolo" sellers to leave the street soon

Atimpoku (E/R), June 8, GNA - Hawkers in the Asuogyaman District are to be sent off the road by the end of July to reduce the number of road accidents in the district.

The move is also to bring decency into the operations of the hawkers and promote the district as a tourist destination. Mr Emmanuel Ntow-Bediako, Asuogyaman District Chief Executive (DCE) said this at a day training workshop on marketing skills for 20 hawkers at Atimpoku on Wednesday.

The workshop, which was organized by the Ho Polytechnic branch of Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) with assistance from the district assembly, was to help the hawkers, who run after moving vehicles to sell their wares improve their sales.

The DCE stated that it was not reasonable for hawkers to chase moving vehicles just to sell few items. He said the assembly had therefore voted 100 million cedis for the construction of a special shade for the hawkers.

Mr Ntow-Bediako noted that the shade, when completed would be weather friendly and would give an image to the hawkers, who would have to sit down for passengers to alight and buy from them. He said the move was not to drive the hawkers away but to give them a convenient working environment.

Mr Ntow-Bediako urged the hawkers to respond positively to the change for their own development.

Earlier, Mr Richmond Worgbah, Project Co-ordinator for Ho Poly SIFE took the hawkers through entrepreneurial skills subjects, including packaging and marketing of their goods. They were also taught how to prepare local washing powder. Miss Lola Asiseh, President of the group said the workshop was to introduce the hawkers to Free Enterprise system and the importance of accepting change.

She noted that the hawkers were targeted because they have the potential for expanding their businesses through proper packaging. Miss Lola advised the hawkers to cultivate the culture of saving for the sustainability of their businesses.

The hawkers were later given plastic containers and take-away packs each to start with.