Bolgatanga Women's association protest against commissioning of market

Bolgatanga, March. 4, GNA- The Bolgatanga Market Women's Association on Tuesday protested against the commissioning of the re-constructed Bolgatanga market scheduled to have taken place on Tuesday.

It would be recalled that 10 years ago the Market Women Association and some traders were asked by the Assembly to vacate the market, now referred to as the 'old market' for it to be renovated and restructured to include a good drainage system that would give traders a hygienic atmosphere to do their business. Most of the women the Ghana News Agency (GNA) spoke to explained that they were not informed about the commissioning of the market, and that, they only heard of the announcement a day before the commissioning.

The market women said they would allow the commissioning of the Market only when the names of the beneficiaries of the stalls were made available by the Municipal Assembly. The women also complained that they cannot afford to pay the GH¢700 and above for a stall and expressed their fears that the redistribution of the stalls was likely to be done through favouritism.

They alleged that the Assembly did not inform the paramount chief of Bolgatanga, Naba Martin Abilba II and the Tindanas, who were the custodians of the land.

It would be recalled that last year, the Association embarked on a similar protest against the commissioning of the market. Based on this Mr Boniface Gambila, former Upper East Regional Minister set up a committee to ensure that the re-distribution stalls was done fairly.

Alhaji Gariba Awudu, Upper East Regional Chairman of the Union of Trade Union Association and also a member of the said committee, urged the market women to exercise restraint for the market to be commissioned since 98 per cent of the beneficiaries, who applied for the stalls, would be allocated one.

He said the Committee had done its job by making recommendations for the effective running of the market, which included the proper demarcation of the stalls according to the various items to be sold. He noted that under the Assembly's bylaws, no individual was supposed to own more than one stall and noted that many persons had flouted the law.

He said the Committee recommended that people who flout the laws would have the extra one seized, and given to others, who would then be reimbursed by the new occupants.

Mr Isaac Nsoh, Municipal Chief Executive, asked the traders to compromise with the Regional and Municipal Coordinating Directorate (MCC) for the commissioning of the market to enable them to do their businesses smoothly.

Meanwhile, negotiations are ongoing between the market women and the authorities to address the issue to allow for the commissioning of the market at a later date.