Confusion at Accra Markets

The Statesman says the markets of Accra, run by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), have now become theatres of conflict between the genuine traders and NDC activists, who have had control of them for a number of years.

The traders are not happy with the control of those markets by the NDC activists, who are either members of the 31st December Women Movement, the Young Traders Association, or the Verandah Boys and Girls.


The paper says it has learnt from the Agbogbloshie, Salvation, Mallam Atta, Santana, Tesano, Kantamanto, New Fadama and Makola markets, where the problem is more pronounced, that unless the authorities act promptly, the crisis could degenerate into a big time conflict that could shatter the peace of the city.

The problem stems from what the traders call "over-exploitation" by NDC appointed "market leaders," especially those known as "market queens." These are women who have nothing to do at the markets except to impose and collect unauthorised levies and tolls on persons selling at the markets.


The traders charged that hundreds of millions of cedis that should legitimately go to the AMA have been finding their way into the pockets of individuals, as a result of the reckless decision by the previous administrations of the AMA to hand over control of the markets to the NDC activists.