Compensate Ayawaso traders over market closures – Unit Committee members demand

The coalition of Ayawaso East Unit Committee Members has petitioned the Ayawaso East Municipal Assembly to pay compensation to traders in the area following consistent closure of markets over COVID-19.

According to the Unit Committee Members, their attention has been drawn to the fact that the assembly closed the Nima Market on April 24, 2020, which was the 3rd consecutive time since the emergence of the Covid-19 in the country.

The convenor for the committee, Naziru Iddriss said: “it is important to state that the consistent posture of the assembly on the closures of the market is unfortunate and unjustifiable considering the fact that the municipality had the opportunity to implement social distancing protocols before reopening it for business when it was closed for the disinfection.

“Although we cannot discount the effect of the pandemic on the inhabitant of the municipality, it is imperative to state that the assembly has not been proactive in minimising the impact of the market closures hence closing it for the 3rd time before talking about social distancing measures”.

He said it is imperative to state that most of these traders have invested their hard-earned livelihood while some have acquired loans for their businesses and in some cases “they invested in perishable goods considering the fact of the month of Ramadan sales.”

“As stakeholders of the municipality we are by this letter requesting for the following; an expedite action to reopen the market latest by Tuesday, April 28, 2020, with social distancing protocols, institute measures for continues Covid-19 outreach education in the market, compensate the market traders for any loss or damages which may arise to them in mitigating impact of the market closures, especially those dealing in perishable goods and suspend payment of market tolls for all traders within reasonable period of time,” he stated.

The convenor said the committee needs briefing with the assembly in respect to the Covid-19 action plans of the assembly and how one can also contribute to complement the effort of the assembly in the fight against the novel coronavirus considering the fact that the municipality is named as one of the hotspots in the country.