Phase one of the Osu Market Rehabilitation Project has been completed at an estimated cost of 700 million cedis. The World Bank and the Agric Sector Implementation Programme (ASIP) provided funds for the project, which started two years ago. The market comprises ten lockable stores, one meat and fish hall, one charcoal sellers shed and 280 stalls. Phase two of the project, which may be privatized, would comprise more lockable stores and a shopping mall.
The Assembly Member of Osu Alata Electoral Area, Mr. Joseph Wellington said it is an old market which is being improved to an acceptable standard. He said drawings for the second phase works have been submitted to the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) for scrutiny and approval and this includes plans for the rehabilitation of the popular "Osu Gbeke Jara" Night Market.
Mr. Solomon Ofei Darko, AMA Chief Executive said the commissioning of the market forms part of the Rural Development Week celebrations launched by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development and the District Assemblies. He said in enforcing its bye-laws relating to the sale of goods at unauthorized and unhygienic areas in the metropolis, AMA is ensuring that there is no encroachment on access roads and pavements by hawkers and squatters. "We are also compelling traders to stay and sell their wares in the markets as there are over 110 of these markets in communities spread across the city." He said the Town and Country Planning Department has not abandoned the idea of identifying suitable areas in the metropolis to be designated as markets for hawkers to reduce the congestion in the Central Business District.
Announcing plans by the assembly to maintain a high standard of hygiene and sanitation in and around markets, in the metropolis, Mr. Darko said committees are being formed to collaborate with the AMA Public Health Department to enforce its bylaws in the markets. "We shall ensure that the sale of livestock and their products are carried out at the appropriate location in the markets," he said. Mr. Darko said, no straying of animals around the markets would be tolerated and only AMA certified meat should be sold to the public, within fly and dust free structures.
Nii Kwabena Boni, Chief of Osu Alata, urged the market queens and traders in the various markets in Accra to renew their pledge to assist and cooperate with AMA to ensure that the markets bye-laws are strictly enforced. He said they should undertake regular clean-up exercises to maintain and sustain a clean environment which would attract the public to patronize their wares.
Nii Boni said the sanitary facilities provided for use around the market, such as toilets and urinals, refuse bins and drains should be maintained and utilized well so that they can be of benefit for a long time. "I would further entreat you to desist from dumping refuse in the drains since that will invariably lead to choked gutters and its attendant nuisance like bad odour, stagnant water, breeding of rodents and flies which can cause serious health and environmental problems."
He appealed to the traders to pay their market fees and ensure that they are paid only to authorized persons so that AMA can generate enough revenue to maintain the market and finance other social facilities like schools.
The Member of Parliament for Klotey Korle Constituency, Nii Adu Darko Mantey, who was critical of the design of the project said the structures do not befit the status of Osu, "which is a prominent society within the capital city of Accra". He said the design and construction of the second phase should meet the standard of a modern society.
The MP said the new market day is Wednesday to coincide with the market day of Adabraka, which is under the same sub-metro as the Osu market, so that the spill over from Adabraka would be brought to Osu.
